DPP orders inquest into May, 2016 fatal shooting by police

The Director of Public Prosecutions has advised that an Inquest be held into the fatal shooting of Ryan Vaux which occurred in front of the Sparendaam Police Station, East Coast Demerara (E.C.D) on May 09, 2016, by police.

Vaux of Lot 80 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, was shot at around 01:10 hrs after police on a mobile patrol observed a man running behind a motor vehicle; PSS 6835 being driven by Vaux and shouting that he had been robbed of a sum of money by persons in the vehicle.

The police subsequently intercepted the motor vehicle, in which was the driver and another man in whose possession was found $21,000.00.

The man and the robbery victim identified as Deryck Persaud, 46 years, of Cummings Lodge, E.C.D, were placed into the police vehicle and the motor vehicle; PSS 6835 was escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station.

However, as ranks approached the vehicle upon arriving in front of the Police Station, the man allegedly brandished a firearm and drove the vehicle in an attempt to escape during which the police discharged a round that struck him to his body.

He has been identified as Ryan Vaux and was pronounced Dead on Arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

A pellet handgun was found in the motor car which had crashed in the vicinity of Vryheid’s Lust Access Road, ECD.

The Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility subsequently conducted an investigation and a file was compiled and forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who advised that an inquest be held.