Randy Morris shooting death “unfortunate” – Top Cop

Jun 25, 2012 News

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By Gary Eleazar

Calling the shooting death of suspected serial bandit, Randy Morris, an “unfortunate” one, Commissioner of Police (ag) Leroy Brumell is also lashing out at the public and victims alike for failing to play their role in the fight against crime.
The Commissioner of Police said that he believes that the police hold their own when it comes to their roles, but the public and victims are equally responsible in ensuring that justice can be served lawfully, given that they too have a responsibility.
The Commissioner was responding to the fact that Morris, who was killed in a shootout with Police, following a high speed car chase through the streets of Georgetown, is a known ‘character’ and was charged 20 times and arrested numerous times more.
Although Morris was arrested on numerous occasions for ‘Robbery under Arms’, he was never convicted.
The Police Commissioner however reminded that it must be borne in mind, that the now dead suspect has several matters “pending” before the court and was also out on bail.
This he said points to the fact that the police did charge Morris on several occasions and the process of prosecuting the suspected criminal had begun but he lambasted the missing factor in the equation.
This he said is in the form of victims and eyewitnesses coming forward and giving the police statements and evidence. Brumell was critical of the fact that there are persons in society who know the perpetrators of various criminal acts but are unwilling to give this information to the police.
He said too that there are persons who would have been the victims of crimes but refuse to give evidence and this would help to nullify the work of the Guyana Police Force.
The Police Commissioner did not offer a comment on the Judiciary and the ripple effect there but reiterated that the Police will not charge a person if there is no evidence to support such a proceeding.
The Police Commissioner said that all are involved and must come forward with the relevant information.
Brumell assured that as is the case with unnatural deaths, there will be a review and lessons drawn upon.
The Police Commissioner did seek to remind that should police ranks be found culpable in the execution of their duties as it relates to investigations, then they will be dealt with.
Brumell assured that no rank is above the law and reminded that each of the Divisional Commanders are au-fait with their responsibilities and they too would be dealt with for failing to execute their lawful duties.
Police ranks on Saturday afternoon reportedly chased behind Morris after he tried to rob a Bourda Market businesswoman and her husband.
Eyewitnesses said that the businesswoman and her husband had just closed their stall and were exiting the market when they were attacked by Morris who grabbed the woman’s bag, which reportedly contained over $500,000 in cash, including foreign currency.
There are reports that the businesswoman, Nandrani Sookwah, 45, held onto her bag and Morris struck her in the head with his firearm.
The woman’s husband, Kishore Sookwah, a licensed firearm holder, discharged two shots at Morris but missed.

 

Morris reportedly jumped into a rented white Toyota Raum and tried to make good his escape but police on motorcycles who by this time had become aware of the robbery attempt, quickly tracked down the vehicle that Morris was driving.
The ensuing chase led the ranks through Cummingsburg and then back into Queenstown where he was eventually shot dead.
Police said that they have recovered a .32 pistol.
Morris was presently before the court on an armed robbery charge having been fingered as one of the bandits who was photographed fleeing on a motorcycle after an Albouystown robbery – a photograph that was emblazoned on the front page of this newspaper.
He was recently held for another high profile robbery on D’Urban Street in which Mahdia businessman Roger Hinds was shot and robbed.
He has also been fingered in several high profile ‘hits’, including one on his friend Vibert Weeks called ‘Vibey’ , and was therefore constantly on the police radar.
Morris, prior to his killing, had told this publication that he believes that he has been made into such a high profile criminal that his life was in jeopardy.
“Whenever something goes down, the police always come looking for me,” Morris had claimed in an exclusive interview with this newspaper.
Morris had admitted during an interview with this publication that he was involved in a criminal matter for which he paid a policeman to cover his tracks.
“Since then he targeting me. Every time something happen, he coming and asking me fuh pay he. If I don’t, I ending up in de lock-up and getting charge,” Morris said.
Morris at the time had said that there were even threats to his life from both policemen and persons who suspect him of being involved in criminal acts against them.
Morris was reportedly out on bail totaling $2.8M for several offences.
He last appeared in court on Thursday where he was placed on $30,000 bail for a wounding offence.

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