Security guard shot dead during botched robbery

Jul 01, 2017 News

– Gunmen escape with victim’s firearm

A security guard was shot dead last night during a scuffle with two gunmen at the Good Luck

Dead: Gerald Henry

Supermarket on Dennis Street, Sophia around 18:30 hrs yesterday.
The victim has been identified Gerald Henry of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Georgetown. He was shot once to the chest and died.

According to reports, the victim was standing inside the supermarket when two gunmen entered and went straight up to him and a scuffle began.

“(The victim) was standing inside the supermarket and like these guys see he had a gun. So one of them went straight up to him—to try to grab the gun but Henry start to fight with he and that’s when he (victim) get shoot to the chest,” a police source said.

Kaieteur News was informed that after shooting Henry, the gunmen collected his weapon and ran out of the supermarket—without taking any valuables. It is unclear whether they had a vehicle waiting on them or whether they escaped on foot.

Immediately after, the security guard was rushed to the GPHC where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

When this newspaper visited the hospital last night, the victim’s wife, Abeola Harris was heard crying from inside the Accident and Emergency Unit where she was taken to identity her spouse’s remains.

She was not in a position to speak to the media.

The victim’s sister-n-law, June Peters, said that she was at home last night when her sister called her in tears and asked that she take her to the hospital.

“She called crying and telling me that the work place called and say that Jarryl get shoot and he gone to the hospital,” Peters said.

Fighting to hold back tears, the woman said that when they reached the hospital, the security guard was already dead.

At the scene, detectives were reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing staff and owner of the supermarket.

Kaieteur News understands that the two gunmen wore hats to conceal their identity but their faces can be recognized.

One onlooker said that he had just left the supermarket when he heard the gunshot and ran for shelter, thinking someone was behind him shooting. “I run and jumped in the bush because in this place. You can’t take chance. Imagine I just see that guard and now he dead.”

Up to press time, ranks were conducting patrol duties in the area trying to locate the suspects.