THE suspected bandit, who was fatally shot by police has been positively identified as Rondel Marks, known as Romel Hoppie/ Blackie of Suddie Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast.Marks, a former policeman, was positively identified on Wednesday by his mother, Monica Marks, at the Arokium Funeral Home in New Amsterdam. She went to identify his body after seeing an image of him on Facebook. The mother said she had not seen Marks in the two years since he left their Suddie, Essequibo Coast home.

Marks was shot dead when police responded to a report of larceny of sheep at Vryheid Village, West Canje on Tuesday morning. Following that encounter, police were led to the home of Raymond La Fleur, a convicted murderer who has been on the run since 2011, when he escaped from the New Amsterdam Prison. There, they arrested a man and seized a number of items suspected to have been stolen, as well as a firearm.

Police, in a statement, said that Marks had drawn a loaded firearm at ranks who were responding to a report of larceny of sheep ongoing at a farmhouse at Lochaber Village, West Canje, Berbice at about 06:20hrs.
Investigations have revealed that on November 12, 2016, a cattle and livestock farmer from

Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice reported that a flock of 29 sheep was stolen from his ranch at Calabash Creek, East Canje. Based on information received, the victim and three police ranks, one armed with a service weapon, proceeded on Tuesday morning to a location at Lochaber Village, West Canje, where the victim positively identified twelve of his sheep tied at the back of a farmhouse.

The ranks then proceeded towards the entrance of the farmhouse, and were immediately confronted by Marks who rushed into the house, armed himself with a handgun, and attempted to shoot the armed policeman who had followed him indoors.

The rank discharged his firearm several times at the suspect, and he fell. He was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Marks’ relatives do not believe that he shot at Police.

Tricia Rodney, Marks adopted sister, questioned why no policeman was injured if indeed a gun was drawn by her now deceased relative.

“He was an ex-cop, military trained. He worked during the period when terror reigned in Georgetown…and if he had drawn a gun, somebody would have been injured, because he could handle a weapon.

“He was no sheep thief. He was not in that kind a business,” she claimed.

She said that the relatives are yet to see Marks’ “green Nike sneakers  which was bought at Colours store for $80,000 or his  turquoise coloured Jordan boots which is also expensive; his gold chain, nor his money about $300,000, were not found,” she claimed.
Meanwhile, Beatrice Mc Donald, the sister of Raymond La Fleur, whose home was visited and searched by the police, told this newspaper that the sheep removed from the yard had belonged to her sibling.

On Tuesday,  police ranks had accompanied  cattle  farmer Yoganand Baljit to the Vryheid Village,  after he reported that he lost twenty nine [29] sheep from  his ranch at Calabash Creek, West Canje, and had received information of the animals location.

During their visit, Marks was shot and twelve heads of sheep were recovered.

However, Mc Donald armed with her documents, visited the law chambers of  Murseline Bacchus, where this reporter was shown a photocopied receipt in the name of Raymond La Fleur for 23 sheep at a cost of $300,000. However, only $200,000 was paid to Keith Mc Donald [husband of Beatrice] on May 11, 2016.

Further, a photocopied “Cattle in Transit” document purports to show that the animals passed through the Grove Police Station on May 11, 2016 by Keith Mc Donald, of Lot 62 Friendship Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara.  The animals, which were described as “twelve big and eleven small” were destined to Nikita Girdharry [La Fleur reputed wife] of West Canje Berbice.

This newspaper was reliably informed that Raymond La Fleur will be visiting Central Police Station shortly, accompanied by his attorney.

Meanwhile, the items retrieved from the shack and the home of Raymond La Fleur remains in police custody.

An autopsy on the body of Rondel Marks is schedule for next week as the country is currently manned by a lone Government Pathologist, Dr Vivikanand Brijmohan, as Dr Nehaul Singh is on leave.

Mark Van Lewin, aged 28 years  of Sand Hills, Berbice River, who reportedly told cops that he had attended a function the night before and had gone to La Fleur’s residence to rest, remains in  police custody,  while the .765 Taurus  and  a 9mm pistol have been sent to be analysed.