TWENTY-eight-year-old Shem Padmore, also known as “Ato”, of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, was rushed to and dumped at the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital by three men in a car.

The incident reportedly occurred after he was allegedly attacked by someone while in the company of two of those men. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

This publication was reliably informed that the body of the father of two bore injuries that appeared to be gunshot or stab wounds, but those would be determined by a post-mortem on Monday.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Friday afternoon, the dead man’s cousin, Doneeca Edinboro, explained that the family received a call just after midnight, informing that her relative’s injured body had been found on the roadway, and that he had been rushed to the Diamond Hospital.

She said the family rushed to the hospital and were initially informed by police ranks that the man had been shot to the face, but they found no evidence to substantiate this claim when they saw the body.

Ms Edinboro explained that closer examination of Padmore’s body revealed three injuries, one in close proximity to his lungs; another in the region of his rib cage; and yet another in the back, which relatives believe may have punctured his heart.
They are convinced that Padmore had been stabbed with either an ice pick or a long screwdriver.

Ms Edinboro said the family has also been told that a car with three men had raced into the hospital compound, dumped the body at the facility, and disappeared.
However, the vehicle’s registration number had been recorded by persons at the facility, and that was handed over to the police, resulting in the arrest of two men and the impounding of the car.

The two arrested men admitted to being friends of the late Shem Ato Padmore, and claimed they were in his presence when he was attacked and injured. They also told investigators that they are familiar with the person who had injured Padmore.

Up to late last evening, however, the police could not confirm whether the injuries evident on the dead man’s body were gunshot or stab wounds.

The man’s reputed wife is expected to revisit the police station today.

Shem Padmore, relatives said, had been employed at one of the fisheries along the East Bank Demerara.
Written By Leroy Smith