–CCTV footage captures suspect

AN EARLY morning shooting at the Rio Night Club at Forshaw and Oronoque Streets in Queenstown, Georgetown has left one man dead and another seriously injured.Dead is 19-year-old Ryan Sargeant, called “Harry”, of Lot 25 Layou Street, North Ruimveldt, who was reportedly shot to the head.

The injured man has been identified as Jeffrey Ferrell, 48, who was shot to the neck and shoulder. He is said to be warded following a surgical operation, but is not yet conscious and is in critical condition.

Police reported that investigations are being conducted into the alleged murder committed on Sergeant, who died of gunshot wounds following a shooting incident that occurred in front of the club at about 02:30h on Monday.

Closed circuit television video (CCTV) footage is available, and investigators have been informed of the possible suspects who were involved in an altercation prior to rounds being

discharged.

Sleuths reported that they know who they are looking for to question in relation to the incident, and they are trying to contact those persons, one of whom was seen exiting the nightclub with a gun in his hand.

Reports indicate that one of the two persons of interest is said to be no stranger to the police, as a result of his previous brushes with the law. Investigators were told that several men armed with guns were observed exiting the nightclub, discharging rounds when a fight broke out inside the bar. The group left the bar and went outside, and the teenager was shot and killed and the other patron was shot and injured in the crossfire.

THE FIGHT

Reports from police sources said a girlfriend of the suspect and another female had a verbal exchange which quickly escalated into a fist fight inside the nightclub. However, the group was asked to “take it out” when their male partners intervened, and soon a group of men had an exchange of words and shots were fired.

Meanwhile, at the home of Sargeant, loud wails erupted when relatives had gathered to comfort each other, having received the dreaded news of his demise on Monday morning.

His aunt, Samantha Sargeant, told the Guyana Chronicle that she last saw Ryan when he was leaving the residence at about 21:00 hrs on Sunday. She related that he left saying he was going to his mother’s home in Festival City, and it was not until Monday morning that they received a telephone call from a relative who resides overseas, informing that Ryan had been shot and was in the hospital.

The grieving woman said that when relatives reached the hospital, they were told that he had died from a gunshot wound to the head during some fight at the Rio nightclub. She added that Ryan had lived with them since his mother resides overseas, but he would visit her house from time to time.

Samantha Sargeant said Ryan is Barbadian-born and would often be in and out of the country, between Canada and the US. She told the Guyana Chronicle that relatives know little of what had transpired, but got bits and pieces of information and are trying to come to grips with the loss.

Ryan was described as a fun-loving individual who had the ability to cheer up people.