– suspect held
ERROL Lindo, called ‘Son Son’ of Lot 1 Caracas Village, West Canje, died on Wednesday evening after succumbing to gunshot injuries while he was embroiled in a property dispute.

Lindo, 51, died at the New Amsterdam Hospital shortly after 21:00hrs despite efforts to save his life.

According to reports, the father of four was shot in his yard shortly after 17:00hrs by a businessman who had commenced demolishing the now deceased man’s home.

Residents in the community told Guyana Chronicle that it was shortly after midday that the suspect and a crew of men went to the area and commenced breaking down the house.
At the time, Lindo was not at home but was with relatives at Black Bush Polder. He had left the community late last year after he was implicated in the disappearance of an expectant mother, Gould Marcellene Amsterdam, also of Caracas Village.

Amsterdam had gone missing after telling her daughter, Akeesha Daniels that she was going over to ‘Son Son’, referring to Lindo, who had lived about a hundred meters away. They had shared a relationship which resulted in the birth of the now nine-year-old Javzel Lindo.
Amsterdam has never been found.

However, on Wednesday as the demolition crew commenced dismantling the two-bedroom wooden cottage, unsuccessful efforts were made to contact the police at Central Police Station.

According to residents, numerous telephone calls were made but there was no response. An off duty rank from the Neighbourhood Policing Group said she rode to the station and informed them of the impending danger, yet no one took her seriously.

After receiving no support from the police, residents contacted Lindo’s sister, who subsequently visited the area, and attempted to prevent the demolition but was unsuccessful.

Errol Lindo was then contacted and moments later he was seen running towards the house after disembarking a minibus.

However, as he approached the building which was by then void of its walls, windows and roof, an argument ensued between him and the businessman. According to a witness, the businessman was seen removing his pistol from his waist and holding the weapon in his hand.
Subsequently, three shots were fired and Lindo was hit to his foot, abdomen and chest.

However, as the shots rang out residents responded by pelting stones and other objects at the suspect and his demolition team, one of whom fled the scene leaving his pants behind.

Meanwhile, the crowd became hostile and many expressed frustration over the delay in the police response and the constant harassment by the suspect who had previously demolished four houses, claiming that the persons were trespassing on his land .

As the fracas intensified, persons ignited the motor vehicle belonging to the suspect who had sought refuge in the home of a nearby resident. Police arrived just in time to save him from the angry mob, but not before the car was burned completely.

Meanwhile, the injured Lindo was left lying in his yard, under a ‘Monkey Apple’ tree bleeding profusely from his injuries. Initially persons were hesitant in removing the wounded man but did so shortly after the police arrived.
He was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital before 18:00hrs but succumbed in the Operating Theatre just after 21:00hrs.

The businessman was subsequently arrested and is currently at the Reliance Police Station.

And yesterday morning, residents peeved at the rumour that the suspect was not detained in police custody, took to the street calling for justice for Errol Lindo.

About forty persons with placards left Caracas, West Canje for the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam chanting ‘we want justice’.

They trekked into Vryman’s Erven Housing Scheme, where they stopped at Little Rock Television Station, before going to Central Police Station, less than a mile away.
On arrival they were greeted by barricades manned by several ranks from the Neighbourhood Policing group. Subsequently, Station Sergeant Michael Newland, while listening to the residents’ concerns, advocated for a peaceful protest.

He told the gathering that for justice to be served, evidence must be forthcoming and that can only be achieved if witnesses come forward and give their statements. At that instance a few persons submitted their names and other relevant information.
By Jeune Bailey Vanke