Execution attempt on bus driver…Suspect nabbed in victim’s hospital room

Nov 24, 2015 News

A man, matching the description of the suspect, who shot a bus driver Sunday night in what is believed to be an execution attempt, was yesterday arrested after he was caught in the victim’s room at the Georgetown Public Hospital

Wounded: Devon Searles

Corporation (GPHC).
Devon Searles, of 73 Hadfield Street, received a single gunshot to his left side jaw when a gunman, who was sitting behind him in the route 40 mini bus he was driving, pointed a .38 revolver at his head and pulled the trigger.
Yesterday, at the hospital, relatives were standing around Searles’s bedside when he started acting in a strange manner. When they turned to investigate, they spotted a young man in the room.
The young man matched the description the conductor, who saw the gunman, gave to relatives.
After realizing all eyes were on him, the young man who appeared to be in his early 20s, walked to another patient in the room and started a conversation.
“At this point, the man (patient) said he don’t know he (suspect) and some of our relatives cornered him and he (suspect) looked really nervous and we tell he that we taking him to the police and he get more nervous,” a relative of the victim said.
She added that Searles recalled seeing a tattoo on his shooter’s face– the suspect also has a tattoo on his face- The victim communicates with his relatives by writing.
Kaieteur News was told that one of Searles’s relatives was standing at his room door when he saw the man staring into each room as he walked past them. The relative alleged that when the young man spotted Searles, he turned back and went into the same room.
“The guy (patient) he was talking with in the room tried to hold him but he (suspect) put his hand on his waist like he going and pull out something so the guy pulled back,” the relative said.

The suspected shooter.

The woman added that when the man was apprehended and taken to the hospital police outpost, he continuously denied being involved in the shooting of the bus driver.
Kaieteur News was told that the suspect, who is said to be from Sophia, was seen hiding a haversack in one of the rooms at the hospital. Police subsequently found a bag in one of the rooms but it is unclear what was in the bag.
Up to press time, the suspected shooter was in custody.
This newspaper understands that the bus conductor too is in police custody after providing conflicting reports to police.
Kaieteur News was told that the suspected shooter boarded the minibus at the Kitty Bus Park at Stabroek Market.
It was when Searles stopped near the David and Sherriff Streets junction to put off a passenger, the gunman made his move.
The gunman made no attempt to shoot or rob the conductor of the bus although he was sitting next to him and pointed the gun in his direction after shooting the driver.
It is still not clear if the shooting had anything to do with Searles’s previous brush with the law. Searles was charged in December 2013 for his alleged involvement in the theft of two cars the previous month.
Back then, it was alleged that on November 15 at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, he robbed Sanjay Babulall of two motorcars, an Allion and a Primio, together valued $6.3 million, property of Robena Khan.
Searles was remanded to prison but was subsequently granted bail.
It is not clear what was the outcome of that matter which was being heard at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

Pic in Tuesday as Devon
Caption:

Pic in Tuesday as suspected shooter
Caption: The suspected shooter (in green)- hide eyes