–incident sends patrons ‘diving for cover’

TWENTY-three-year-old Denzil Mingo, a former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) second lieutenant was early yesterday morning riddled with bullets after leaving the Edge Night Club, housed in the Hotel Tower building on Main Street, Georgetown.

The incident reportedly occurred at around 04:00hrs.
Reports reaching this publication are that Mingo, of Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, had just entered a white Toyota Allion when two men, armed with what appeared to be AK-47 rifles, opened fire on the car, injuring Mingo. He was later pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Eyewitnesses told this publication that the gunmen had earlier been seen having drinks at a table in the Edge Night Club, and might have been observing Mingo’s movements.
“It was when we were about to leave the place that we heard what sounded like gunshots, and we stepped back into the hotel, “ one eyewitness said, adding:
“Then we realized that two persons were firing shots at a white car. We did not know who was the person in the car, until after the gunshots stopped, and we went out and saw this boy with blood all over his skin.”
Yesterday morning’s shooting reportedly sent nightclub patrons scurrying for cover. “A lot of people were running for cover when that nonsense happened! I don’t know what is wrong with some people,” one eyewitness lamented.
Mingo, a former student of the Christ Church Secondary School, had successfully completed a GDF Cadet Officers’ course and, in 2011, had been stationed at the GDF base in New Amsterdam, Berbice as Base Commander.
During that time, he had allegedly assaulted radio announcer Nerissa Pearson when he should have been at his post in New Amsterdam, and had spat on a police officer, for which offence he had been charged.
Mingo and another man had, one year earlier, been charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding one Clive Atwell in Alberttown.
He had been dishonourably discharged from the GDF in 2011, and according to a senior GDF officer, Mingo had been a very indisciplined individual.
Mingo and others had allegedly robbed a man of his car in Albuoystown; and he had also been charged with robbery under arms in 2012, for which he had been placed before a magistrate at the Wales Magistrate’s Court, West Bank Demerara. However, the victim did not offer evidence, and had allegedly been paid $800,000 to settle the matter.

(By Michael DaSilva)
(Additional reporting by Alex Wayne)