THE Sunday morning shooting that took place at the Magic City Lounge Nightclub, which left one person dead and four other persons injured, is said to have started after a group of men walked into the club and saw a woman they were familiar with in the company of another man.

The shooting resulted in the death of 21-year-old taxi driver, Raymond Lindo, from Diamond Housing Scheme, who has had several brushes with law over the years, including being arrested along with five others on robbery charges in October 2018, where he is alleged to have acted as the getaway driver.

However, according to a source who claims to have been inside the club at the time, Lindo was hit by a stray bullet, and was not the actual target. Also among the injured is said to be, Edward Skeete, known as ‘Pretty Boy’, who is also known for previous encounters with the law. Skeete has had several brushes with the law including armed robbery, and was charged with murder in 2011 and 2015. He was acquitted of the 2015 murder in 2018. He is said to be in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Reports are that around 04:00hrs on Sunday, the gunshots rang out at the exotic bar which is located in Garnett Street, Kitty adjacent to the Fireside Grill. All of the injured were taken to the GPHC for treatment. The identities and other details of the other injured were not available up to press time. Efforts to contact Regional Commander, Phillip Azure, and Acting Crime Chief, Michael Kingston, proved futile. Given the nature of the shooting, the source speculated that the shooting may have been gang related.

“Apparently they knew some girl that was with one of the guys them and they were put out [of the Club] and they start a problem outside. It’s on the road the thing happen. It didn’t happen in the club. Some men on CG ride up the road firing off the guys. It’s some gang war or some stupidness. I don’t really understand it,” the source noted. An official from the nightclub noted that the shooting did not take place inside of the facility, and said that a private party was being hosted at the club at the time.

“It wasn’t a case where the altercation happened in the club. The altercation started in the club, but no shots were fired in the club. It was outside at the parking lot at the back and on the road. The club wasn’t opened, it had a private party in the club. The gate was open so these men drive in thinking that the club was functional and walk in the back door and see some people in there. As far as we know they were put out because it was some persons in a private party,” the official noted.

It is unclear how the nightclub has been able to open its doors in direct violation of COVID-19 measures, which have been in effect since March. One person, speaking with the Guyana Chronicle under anonymity, confirmed witnessing the club in operation during the period.

“I know Magic City has been working as per usual for months despite the COVID-19 measures,” the individual noted. The official from the club defended the opening, saying that only private parties were being hosted at the facility. “At the end of the day we can’t allow our business to die. When the COVID-19 came we were in a bad position because we had just done repairs. We hosted a few private parties because just like everyone else, we are under pressure due to the COVID-19,” the official said.

One resident who claims to live on Garnett Street in the vicinity of the club, took to social media last Sunday, and claimed that gunshots being fired at the spot has become a regular occurrence.

Another resident, speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, noted that in addition to gun shots, the back firing of the motorcycles of the patrons of the nightclub would often make similar sounds, which is what he initially thought was the case when he was awoken by the shooting on Sunday morning. However, due to continuous shots, he surmised it was gun shots.