Shopkeeper, 55, found dead with stab wound to chest

Andrew Harris, a 55-year-old shopkeeper of the Surinamo Landing near the Mazaruni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni- Mazaruni), was found dead on Tuesday with a three-inch stab wound to his chest.

Police Headquarters reported that Harris, also called ‘Short Man’, was allegedly murdered sometime between Monday and Tuesday at ‘Mer Meria’ Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River.

It is suspected that he was murdered by a 34-year-old co-worker.

Based on the investigations so far, Harris and the suspect had been working together on a newly-constructed shop owned by a 52-year-old businesswoman of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, for the past 10 days.

According to the businesswoman, at about 10:00hrs on Tuesday, she received a phone call from the suspect who told her he found Harris dead at the shop.

The matter was subsequently reported to the Police and ranks visited the area. There, they found the body of Harris in a slouched position on a bench, with what appeared to be blood on his jersey and on the ground where he sat.

Detectives examined the body and observed a stab wound, about three inches in width, to his upper left chest.

The suspect was subsequently arrested at a nearby camp and taken into custody.

Investigations are in progress.