– pledges justice and support

MINISTER of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, visited the community of Buxton on Wednesday in the aftermath of a tragic shooting incident that claimed two lives and left six others injured, late Tuesday evening.

The incident occurred at Patsy’s Shop, located on Middle Walk, Buxton, where gunmen opened fire on a group of people gathered at the location. Among the deceased are 15-year-old Leon McFarlene and 38-year-old businessman, Mark Anthony Correia.

Minister Benn was accompanied by Regional Commander for Police Region 4C, Assistant Commissioner Khali Pareshram, and other senior law enforcement officials as he met with grieving relatives and friends of the victims.

He extended condolences on behalf of the government and assured the affected families that every effort will be made to bring those responsible to justice.
“This is a deeply tragic and unacceptable act of violence. The government stands firmly with the families and the Buxton community at this difficult time,” Minister Benn said, pledging support and assistance for the injured and bereaved.

According to initial reports, the attackers arrived in a silver-coloured motorcar before carrying out the deadly attack. Police investigators are actively pursuing leads to locate the suspects and are appealing to the public for any information that could assist the investigation.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has urged residents to co-operate fully with the police as they continue their probe into what has been described as an alleged case of murder and attempted murder.

This incident has re-ignited concerns about gun violence in communities along the East Coast Demerara corridor, where law enforcement authorities have in recent months stepped up patrols and intelligence-led operations to curb crime and dismantle criminal networks.

Tuesday night’s shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have underscored the need for community co-operation, timely information sharing, and stronger trust between residents and police.

Minister Benn stressed that security forces are committed to restoring calm and ensuring that those responsible face the full force of the law.