Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Bandit, 18 shot dead after Hampshire robbery
Robbery victims: Savitri Mootoo, Latchminarine Sammy and Vernon Mootoo
An 18-year-old gunman was shot dead and his 22-year-old accomplice captured during a pre-dawn confrontation yesterday with police at Port Mourant, Corentyne.
Police identified the dead man as Hemchand Gopaul, of Rose Hall, Corentyne, and said that Gopaul was positively identified as one of three bandits who had made off with some $85,000 and an estimated 60 pennyweight in jewellery after smashing their way into a house at Hampshire, Corentyne earlier in the day.
One of the suspects, identified as 22-year-old man Ameer Abulasy, of Port Mourant, Corentyne was arrested shortly after the shootout, while a third suspect fled the scene.
A police release stated that eight 9mm. rounds were found in the slain man’s pockets.
According to reports, the bandits struck around 1:30 hrs at a Lot 22 Hampshire Squatting area home occupied by Latchmini Narinesammy, 68, Maria Mootoo, 45, her sister Savitri Mootoo, 41 years; and their brother, Vernon Mootoo, and Narinesammy’s nine-year-old grandson. Narinesammy told Kaieteur News that she had got up around 1:00 hr to prepare things for her daughter, Savitri, who was travelling to Trinidad that day, when she looked outside and saw three men in black clothing standing in the street.
Shortly after, she heard footsteps on the zinc roofing in front of the house. Someone then smashed one of the front windows and fired a shot.
Narinesammy said that she, along with her son and grandson, hid in a front bedroom. The bandits, who were armed with guns and cutlasses, found her two daughters in a back bedroom.
She said that the robbers assaulted her daughter, Maria, while demanding that she hand over the family’s valuables.
The bandits eventually collected $85,000, a quantity of jewellery and three mobile phones before firing a few shots and fleeing.
There are reports that the bandits had also entered another house in the area but left empty-handed.
The police responded quickly and confronted the suspects at the Rose Hall Cemetery.
“Quick response and information led to the police coming under fire at the Rose Hall Cemetery and subsequently at Port Mourant, Corentyne, during pursuit,” the police release said. “The police returned fire fatally wounding Hemchand Gopaul, 18, of Rose Hall, Corentyne.”
“Another suspect was arrested shortly after in the Port Mourant district and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.”
None of the booty was recovered.
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