– was accused of selling ganja on the premises

A THIRTY-YEAR-OLD tenant who allegedly shot his landlord at Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Friday night is on the run, police said; the landlord had objected to him selling ganja on the premises.

The man was identified as Roswell Browne called “Asif”. His girlfriend was arrested and is in police custody.

Reports reveal that the 66-year-old landlord, Basil Murray, of 89 Melanie Damishana was shot multiple times to his legs because he warned the tenant over allegations that he was selling marijuana on his premises.

Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan said enquiries disclosed that the victim owns and rents a three-storey property at Lot 360 Melanie Damishana, ECD, where the suspect is one of his tenants.

He explained that around 21:15hrs Friday night, Murray was making a routine visit to his Lot 360 property when he met the suspect in the yard and told him that it was alleged that narcotics were being sold on the premises and that should not be happening.

An argument ensued and Browne fired seven shots from a handgun, wounding the landlord in both legs.
Residents in the area noted the man had moved into the area only three months ago and frequents the interior.

The landlord was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he has been admitted in a stable condition. He had undergone surgery on Saturday.

Ramlakhan said investigators have retrieved seven spent shells of a small calibre weapon at the scene. The police are continuing their investigation to apprehend the perpetrator.