A 35-year-old Police Lance Corporal was shot dead this morning by a businessman at Vreed-en-Hoop after a row erupted at the businessman’s shop over the sale of a phone.
The dead Policeman has been identified as Richard Marvin Hayes, who was attached to the Impact Base at the Brickdam Police Station. He lived at Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Coast Demerara.
In a statement, the Guyana Police Force said the deadly shooting occurred just after 9 o’clock this morning at the Stelling Road, Vreed-en-Hoop business place of the 37-year-old businessman.
The Police statement said Lance Corporal Hayes first visited the shop yesterday and returned this morning to make a purchase.
However, he reportedly became hostile in the shop as the businessman was packing out boxes.
“Hayes began to behave in a hostile manner and was told to leave the shop. Hayes continued his hostile behaviour and it is alleged that he picked up a cellphone heater gun, which was on the display counter and threw it at the suspect, hitting him on his chest area. During the confrontation, the suspect drew his firearm and discharged one round in the direction of Hayes, hitting him in his right side chest area, which caused him to receive injuries,” the Police stated.
The Policeman’s brother, Ron Hayes, said the shooting was unjustified, and his family must now get justice.
“We looking for justice because he was a member of the police force and me brother was a corporal, supposed to get promotion, and me aint see no reason why a license firearm holder should tek out he gun knowing that duh is a police, even if it is a normal person, he ain’t supposed to pull he strap because it is nothing serious like somebody going fuh rob you. It was a confrontation whereby I spend my money and if something wrong with the item I have to bring it back to let you know something wrong,” Ron Hayes said.
The grieving brother, who owns a barbershop nearby, said he was in his shop when other vendors informed him that his brother had been shot.
“I working in me barber shop and one of the stall members called out and say your brother get shoot. So, I went over the road to the shop, right where he had some phone itation with this man, I don’t know what it is but I just go and see he lying on the ground and the same person insist, go and get your car and carry the man to the hospital,” Ron Hayes recalled.
The injured Policeman was rushed to the nearby West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Police said the businessman has since been arrested and his licensed .32 Taurus pistol and his gun license have been confiscated.
A full investigation is underway.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login