Latest update April 7th, 2025 12:08 AM
Shot former murder accused claims innocence
Shawn Thom
“I’m not a robber man but once your name call in a previous incident you are being targeted,” is the contention of a shot and handcuffed Shawn Thom from his hospital bed.
The 37 year old father of three, a former murder accused, is suspected to be part of a gang that trails and robs travelers from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, but he says the police are trying to frame him.
On Wednesday last, Thom, of Third Street, Alexander Village, was shot during an alleged confrontation with police and although he has been officially discharged, he is still a patient under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Male Surgical Ward.
Detailing his version of Wednesday’s events that led to his shooting, Thom was adamant that he was not at the airport on the night in question but rather picked up two men in the vicinity of La Penitence Market.
He alleged that the men gave the Seawalls by Celina’s as their destination. “When the car was nearing Lamaha and Vlissingen road they paid me with a $5000 bill for which I didn’t have change, so we went to a pools bar by Stanley and Barr Street.” He said he opted to remain by his car watching the men while they went for change when a dark colored Toyota Tundra pulled up. “The Tundra with tint pulled up with no lights at the same time that one of his men who went to get change was headed back in my direction.”
Whoever was in the vehicle opened the four doors while issuing an order. “Dem seh ‘y’all come’, and before I could make a step towards them, they started licking shots.” He attributed fear to his reason for running for his life. “I didn’t know is who nor why they deh shooting, so I make a dash to get to the Kitty Police Station but I spot the Tundra again and I run in a yard and hide and then some police come and start search and I come out after I hear one say he is a Police Corporal.”
Thom, a former Purchasing Officer at Didco, maintaining that he was not a thief, said that he gave himself up and also stated that he has a relative who is a Police Corporal. However he said he thinks he may have made a mistake in stating that. “When I say that I got a family who is a police, the one who said he is a Police Corporal pull me aside, press he gun against my leg and willfully shoot me in my foot so I couldn’t move anymore.”
Responding to questions about his life as a criminal Shawn Thom admitted that he spent five years in jail but was last February released along with Orin David, on a not guilty verdict for the 2010 murder of Mahaica businessman, Lakhram Bishundial.
He said since his last ordeal, for which he continued to claim his innocence, he has been trying his best to stay out of trouble but it seems that trouble is following him.
“To be honest is me and me wife buy this car and I does wuk taxi but I don’t go out nowhere anymore, is taxi wuk and home because I have me three children to live for so this here is hard on me right now. I’m not any robber man,” he said.
According to the police, about 23:00 hrs on Wednesday, police ranks confronted the occupants of a motor vehicle at Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
This was after ranks got information that the occupants of the car were trailing someone from the airport to Barr Street, Kitty.
The ranks alleged that they came under fire from the occupants of the car and returned fire, wounding Shawn Thom while his alleged accomplice managed to escape.
According to the police an unlicensed .38 revolver with three live rounds and two spent shells were recovered and the motor vehicle seized by the police.
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