Father of reporter Leroy Smith dies after beating during home invasion

Leroy Peters, 82, the father of popular reporter Leroy Smith, has died after he was badly beaten during a home invasion three weeks ago.

Mr Smith confirmed his father’s death with the News Room, saying that his father never regained consciousness after the beating he suffered sometime between September 10-12 at his Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara home.

Four persons were initially arrested in the investigation but they were all released. On Wednesday, another person was arrested. He reportedly committed a similar act many years ago.

The suspect was implicated in the rape of a woman but was freed and his co-accused committed for the incident which involved burning of the woman’s house.

“Dad was found unconscious, in a pool of cloth blood by my ten-year-old brother and villagers on Thursday afternoon September 12,” Smith said on his Facebook page.

“While I was making one of my routine unannounced visits to his home Thursday to check on him as I usually do, I saw crowds of persons at his house and then is when I became aware that something was wrong. He was reportedly discovered five minutes before my arrival,” Smith related.

Police investigations are continuing.