FORTY-EIGHT-year-old seaman Martin Bovell, aka John Corbie, of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was shot in the abdomen and stomach in an exchange of gunfire following an altercation with a patron at the Wings and Things Bar on Mandela Avenue at about 2:00 hours on Sunday.

Police say the seaman was outside the bar drinking when he rested a beer bottle on the man’s car trunk. The owner of the car apparently upbraided Bovell over what he had done; and not taking kindly to the ticking off, Bovell reportedly followed the man into the bar and discharged a round behind him.

The man immediately drew his licensed handgun and discharged three rounds at Bovell, hitting him in the region of the chest and abdomen.
Bovell was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where, police report, he is in a serious condition; while the shooter was apprehended by the police, and is assisting with investigations into the matter.

The gun with which Bovell was shot has been confiscated by the police, and the four spent shells that were retrieved from the crime scene are in safe custody of the police.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited Bovell’s East Ruimveldt home late yesterday, the place was locked tight.