Police asks Travis Chase to hand in firearm in shooting probe

Police investigating a shooting incident involving reporter Travis Chase have asked him to hand over his firearm, saying shell casings found at the scene bear “significant similarities” to the ammunition Chase had when he registered his firearm.

Chase has dismissed the Police’s revelation as” absolute nonsense.”

The alleged shooting unfolded at around 19:05hrs on Monday at D’Urban and Cemetery Road, Georgetown.

Police said investigators recovered spent shells from the scene and submitted same to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) crime laboratory for testing.

“One of the expert firearm examiners within the Laboratory  compared the aforementioned shell casings with the specimen shell casings  that were obtained from Mr Chase when he had just purchased and registered his firearm, and  the preliminary test result reveals significant similarities between these spent shells,” Police headquarters reported.

It added: “As a consequence, investigators have invited Mr Chase to surrender his licensed firearm for further analysis to be conducted.”

Chase had told reporters at the scene that an off-duty cop who witnessed the shooting chased after the gunman but did not manage to apprehend him.

In an initial statement, Police Headquarters said Chase had parked his white Toyota Premio car, PVV 8453, on the western side of the road in front of his house and he went into his house to collect a shopping list from his aunt.

“While doing so he heard several loud explosions suspected to be gunshots, which came from the direction of his car. Chase said that on checking his car, he discovered three holes on the left rear fender, suspected to be as a result of gunshots,” the Police report noted.

Investigators recovered three 9mm spent shells and one live 9mm round at the scene.