Police probe bizarre claim that man on tractor shot himself to chest

Four persons have been arrested as Police investigate the circumstances under which a 46-year-old mechanic was found dead with a bullet wound to the chest on Wednesday night at Goat Creek in the Essequibo River.

Dead is Joseph Mahadeo known as Terry of Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo.

The News Room understands that Mahadeo was employed as a mechanic at a mining company which is owned by a businessman of Parika and on October 30, he, a tractor driver and a painter were travelling from the camp when the vehicle developed mechanical problems.

The driver sent Mahadeo back to the camp to collect a hose and other items.

It is alleged that upon arrival at the camp, the General Manager, who is a licensed firearm holder, gave Mahadeo a key to go into a safe to collect the hose.

The Police were told that in addition to taking those hose, Mahadeo also stole the shotgun from the safe and took it on the tractor.

It is alleged that Mahadeo was sitting in the front of the tractor on two pales with the gun between his legs and the butt resting on the ground when the gun went off.

Mahadeo was found with a gunshot wound to the left side chest. The Police were informed and they found three live 12 gauge cartridges in his pocket while the gun was found in the trail about 10 feet behind the said tractor.

The mechanic was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Diagnostic Centre.