A teenage bandit was shot dead yesterday afternoon just after 13:00 hrs when he and two accomplices invaded the premises of Businessman Eon Evans of 4th Street, Dazzel Housing Scheme, East Coast of Demerara.

While the Guyana Chronicle was not able to confirm the identity of the dead bandit, it was suggested that he had once been a person of interest to the police in relation to a crime in the city, but there was not enough evidence to support this contention.

This publication was informed that the men, two of whom were armed with guns while the other was armed with a pair of scissors, had travelled from the city to the East Coast location to carry out their crime.

Speaking with the media yesterday afternoon, the businessman said he was awoken by the sound of a noise coming from his back door, but before he could arise from his bed, a man at his bedside placed a gun to his head.

The bandits demanded that he hand over his cash, jewellery and firearm, but he told them he had nothing. Confiscating the gold jewellery he was then wearing, the men tied up his wife, leaving her in a bedroom under guard of the third bandit, who was simultaneously rifling the place for anything that might constitute booty, and led the man downstairs to the shop, where the couple’s son was selling.

One bandit encouraged his accomplice to shoot the businessman, but that did not happen.

After the duo had ransacked the shop, they left the premises without informing their accomplice upstairs in the bedroom. When the businessman returned upstairs, he asked the abandoned bandit what he was still doing there, and informed him that his accomplices had departed.

As the last bandit was making his way out of the man’s home, the businessman retrieved his licensed firearm and shot him dead.

The Guyana Chronicle arrived on the scene to find residents converging there even as the police investigators had commenced questioning several persons, including the occupants who were at home when the incident occurred.

The body of the dead bandit had not yet been removed from the premises, and investigators stood over the body which lay outside the door of the man’s back stairway in the upper flat.

One woman recalled that she had earlier passed the businessman sitting on his verandah right where the bandit had been sitting, and she had jokingly remarked, “You breezing out man, but you got to look out for them,” a reference that he needed to look out for bandits.

Another resident who spoke with the Chronicle stated that the businessman had always told them that he was prepared for anyone who would attempt to rob him. He had said he would ensure he killed them, because he had worked hard to earn what he now owns.

Other persons openly commented that the time has come when, once the victims get the upper hand, those who continue to invade persons’ homes and rob and hurt them and their families should be killed.

Residents of contiguous communities gathered at the crime scene upon hearing of the news, anxious to get a glimpse of the shot bandit. Some praised the businessman for his bravery, while others openly questioned whether he was going to get into trouble for shooting the intruder. They were later relieved to learn that the businessman is not likely to be prosecuted for defending himself in the way he did.

The police press release issued yesterday in relation to the incident did not deny that the dead bandit had been a person of interest to the police sometime ago; but would only state, among other things, that an investigation is ongoing and that the identity of the slain bandit is not yet known to them.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that, shortly after yesterday’s shooting incident, the relatives of the dead man were informed of the development.
Written By Leroy Smith