The three men who were shot dead by police at the seawall Thursday afternoon were known “characters” having been previously arrested and charged with several offences.
Dead are 46-year-old Dextroy Cordis of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD); he was previously granted bail on a simple larceny charge particularly ‘trunking’, Kwame Assanah of Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and 57-year-old Errol Adams of Darthmouth, Essequibo Coast who police say were arrested in connection with several offences.
Police say that two of the dead men were about to rob a customer who had just left a city bank when ranks on a patrol intervened, causing an exchange of gunfire.
After observing two suspicious “characters” in a motorcar in the vicinity of Scotia Bank, Robb Street, ranks of an anti-crime patrol in an unmarked vehicle were alerted by “operatives”. The patrol followed the suspicious vehicle which they observed had begun following a customer who had just left the bank in a motorcar.
“This observation continued and culminated at the Kingston Seawall where the customer had by this time parked his motorcar. At this time, the two suspicious looking characters in the motorcar, drove up to the customer’s vehicle and exited, one brandishing a small arm at the customer. At the same time the police anti-crime patrol, which by now was in close proximity called out to the suspicious looking characters but the one who was armed discharged several rounds at the police who returned fire,” a police statement outlined.
This round of exchange resulted in the death of Cordis and Assanah. Seconds later, two males on a CG motorcycle approached and one of the men discharged several rounds at the police who again returned fire, killing Adams. The other man on the motorcycle escaped.
Police say a 9mm pistol along with a magazine containing seven live rounds and four spent shells were retrieved.
The roof and windshield of the police anti-crime vehicle were damaged by the gunfire from the suspects.
The motorcar which was driven by the now Assanah was searched and the following items were found therein a supernumerary precept, one driver’s licence, ten passports belonging to himself and family members, a key used by trunkers, two handcuff keys, a bandana and clothing.
