RELATIVES of slain Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard, Lance Corporal Kevon Payne are accusing a ‘drug dealer’ of ordering his execution, and they are now fearful that his brother, Vellone Throne is next on the list.In the circumstances, they want the 28-year-old Throne to be protected. Payne, 22, called ‘Scar’, was killed Tuesday night after two gunmen opened fire on him in the presence of his family at his Sussex Street, Charlestown home. The incident occurred shortly after he returned home from duty.
The father of two would have celebrated his 23rd birthday on June 17.
The Guyana Chronicle understands that he was shot six times about the body, while his friend, Shakel Wilson, was shot in the leg and is being treated at a private city hospital.
Senior officials of the GDF visited the family on Wednesday to offer their sympathy, and promised to provide any assistance to the grieving family.
The GDF team included Commander of the GDF Coast Guard, Gary Beaton; Force Chaplin, Reverend Nicholas Corbin; and welfare officers.
Relatives say that as far as they are aware, Payne had no grievance with anyone. However, this newspaper understands that Payne was involved in an argument with some individuals earlier in the day.
According to an eyewitness, Payne was standing at the side of the roadway with another man, when two men on a white motorcycle rode up and shot him. The eyewitness said that the gunman then walked east up Sussex Street towards a group of policemen in a vehicle, and then turned back to where they left Payne’s body. The police then opened fire.
Thorne told the Guyana Chronicle that he was with his brother at the time of the shooting.
“We were sitting in front of the house; two guys came up on a motorcycle and start shooting at my brother,” he recalled.
According to him, it was not long after that the police van arrived on the scene. “The police pull up in a split second, and start shooting, too, along with the guys them on the bike,” Thorne said.
He also claimed that he is familiar with one of the cops, who he is accusing of murder. “Rambo was one of the police that shoot meh brother.”
Payne’s aunt, Pauline Paris, who wept bitterly at the scene, said she not only witnessed the shooting, but after running to safety, was able to see the licence plate of the vehicle in which the alleged ‘killer’ was. “When the police started to ring out the heavy bullets, I had to run,” the woman said.
The grieving mother, Evett Paris said she lost a daughter in 2008 under similar circumstances, and got no justice, but feels she cannot live now without her son, who has been her support.
On Tuesday night, scores of residents swarmed the street as they expressed anger over the shooting of their loved one and friend. There was also a high police presence with ranks keeping a close watch on the many spent shells that were scattered all over the crime scene.
According to a Guyana Police Force release, ranks of a police mobile patrol that was in the vicinity responded to the sound of gunshots and confronted the two suspects who managed to escape after an exchange of gunfire with the ranks.
The Police Office of Professional Responsibility and ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department are conducting investigations into the incident. A postmortem on Payne’s body is expected to be done this week.