Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM
Agricola robbery, murder…
One suspect confesses
The police have arrested a man who has been identified as one of the perpetrators of the armed robbery at Agricola on Wednesday during which Melissa Payne, of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, was shot and killed.
The man was arrested at his Agricola home by police acting on information provided.
According to a source, the suspect has admitted to being involved in the robbery but denied that he was the trigger man.
He claimed that his accomplice was the person who shot Payne and the same alleged killer escaped with the loot since they all ran in different directions after the robbery.
Dead: Melissa Payne
Two other men have been arrested and the police are searching for a fourth man.
Twenty-seven year-old Melissa Payne, of 56 Den Amstel, was killed after she attempted to put up a fight with gunmen who carried out a brazen attack on her and a male friend, at Agricola Public Road, on Wednesday at about 8:30am.
The gunmen escaped with some $110,000 in cash that was in the woman’s bag, as well as a quantity of jewellery.
At the time of the robbery she was in the company of a male friend, David Fraser, who said that they were heading to town to conduct business.
The man said that they were approaching Agricola when the Canter truck in which they were traveling encountered mechanical problems.
He said that they stopped and he came out and tried to fix the truck, while Melissa remained seated in the truck.
He said a few minutes later Melissa came out of the vehicle and stood watching him fix the truck.
He said an older guy came up to him with a gun and demanded his cash.
Then the man snatched his gold chain and he, Fraser, tried to run away but he was stopped by another bandit who was acting as the “lookout.” Fraser said that he tried to attract the attention of other drivers, but no one stopped.
The bandits intensified their demands after seeing Melissa’s handbag.
She attempted to turn back and go to the truck, but was stopped in her tracks by the other bandit who was the lookout.
According to Fraser this bandit was younger and demanded the bag from Payne.
He admitted that she was little hesitant but later complied.
He further told this newspaper that as Melissa was giving the men the bag the strap “got tangled”, hinting that this may have caused the bandits to believe that she was not complying. The man with tears in his eyes said, “I kept telling her to give them the bag! Give them the bag!!!”
An emotional Fraser said all he heard was a gunshot and saw Melissa clutching the area under her arm. He said that the gunmen then ran away from the Agricola community.
He said that he saw a motorist and pleaded with the man to take him and the injured Melissa Payne to the hospital. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
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