State House attacker remanded for stabbing guard, discharging loaded firearm

Nigerian National Bethel Ikena Chimezie, who attempted to infiltrate the President’s Official residence -State House – was on Thursday remanded to prison for attempting to murder a Presidential guard and discharging a loaded firearm.

Chimezie, 25, had to be lifted into Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan’s courtroom at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, since he is still recovering from gunshot wounds.

It is alleged that Chimezie on December 15, 2022, at State House, wounded Presidential guard Telon Perreira with intent to commit murder.

It is further alleged that on the same day in question, Chimezie discharged a loaded firearm at Presidential guard, Quacy Cummings.

He was not required to plead to both charges, since it was laid indictable. The court heard that Chimezie lived at Ninth Street, Industry, East Coast Demerara.

The Chief Magistrate remanded Chimezie to prison until January 26.

The News Room was made to understand that Chimezie had to undergo a psychiatric assessment and he was deemed fit to stand trial.

Senior Police sources have confirmed that Chimezie last worked at a Georgetown cleaning business. His employer has told Police that Chimezie did not appear to have any mental health issues

The owner of the company declined to comment when contacted by the News Room.

Chimezie showed up at State House and confronted the Presidential guard in a hut stating: “I want the President.”

The Presidential guard, identified as Telon Perreira, was stabbed five times by the man who was armed with a knife.

The attacker then proceeded to disarm a female rank of her gun, walked out of the guard hut, and started firing outside of the compound on Carmichael Street.

The security detail returned fire, injuring Chimezie. He was released from the hospital on January 16, 2023.