Man, 40, found dead hours after confrontation at Soesdyke bar

Yoel Valenzuela, a 40-year-old labourer who resided at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was found dead Sunday morning on the roadside at Soesdyke Junction (EBD), hours after he was involved in an altercation at a nearby bar.

A statement from Police Headquarters noted that the murder was committed by three suspects (names withheld) at about 04:30hrs.

Investigations revealed that on Saturday, at about 20:00hrs, Valenzuela along with his 17- year-old son John Valenzuela, his cousin Ameria Campo, age 34, and John Campo, age 21, all of Timehri went to Ragu Sports Bar at  Soesdyke where they were imbibing alcohol.

One of the suspects, known to the witnesses, approached the older Valenzuela and started arguing with him.

Police said the son confronted the suspect, and an argument ensued between them. He then pushed and cuffed the suspect to his mouth.

“The suspect, in the company of other friends, confronted the now-deceased man and his relatives. Valenzuela and his relatives ran out of the bar, followed by the suspects. Yoel Valenzuela ran south of Soesdyke public road and turned up the Soesdyke Linden Highway, followed by the suspects, while John Valenzuela, Ameria and John Campo ran further south along Soesdyke Public Road, followed by friends of the prime suspect,” the police statement noted.

A 32-year-old self-employed man of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway claimed that around 05:30hrs Sunday, he went to urinate at the Soesdyke Junction when he saw the lifeless body of Yoel Valenzuela and he reported same to the Police.

Crime scene investigators examined Valenzuela’s body and a wound was seen above the left ear, and another was seen on the right back. The area was checked and what appeared to be blood stains were seen.

The body of Valenzuela was escorted to the Diamond Diagnostic Center, where it was examined by a Doctor who pronounced him dead.

One suspect is currently in Police custody. Police are looking for the other suspects as investigations continue.