Miner, 50, charged for brutal 2022 attack and murder

Weeks after he was arrested in relation to the 2022 murder of Ray Wame Narine, a 50-year-old miner was on Thursday charged and remanded to prison.

Shawn Thomas also known as ‘Troy Richards’, ‘Mark Baxter’ and ‘Cutty’ appeared at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court where the charge was read to him by Magistrate Tariq Mohamed.

Thomas, a resident of Pearl Village, East Bank Demerara was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

The case was adjourned to May 03, 2024.

Thomas is accused of murdering, Ray on September 22, 2022, at Sand Hill Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven.

After eluding the police for one year, Thomas was arrested on February 23, 2024 at Grill King on Mandela Avenue when he was spotted by the dead man’s father, Elton Narine.

The Guyana Police Force had issued a wanted bulletin for Thomas in relation to the shooting.

Narine’s twin brother, Ron Keme Narine and another man, Rakesh Chunilall, a miner of Banana Land, Berbice were also injured when they were allegedly attacked by Thomas and his son.

It was reported that Narine and his brother were at their dredge operation on the day in question but left and went to Sandhill Landing, Cuyuni River.

While sitting on the front step of a shop, a Honda XR motorcycle (# unknown) rode up from a western direction with Thomas and his son.

The surviving Narine told the police he recognised the pillion rider – with whom he had an altercation a few days earlier.

The suspects dismounted the motorcycle, hurriedly walked towards the men and discharged several rounds in their direction.

They ran but the suspects continued discharging rounds in their direction.

Ron Narine then saw his brother collapse on the roadway but he continued running and sought refuge in some bushes where he remained for about two hours after which he returned to the landing.

Upon arrival, he found his brother lying motionless on the road; he later contacted the police and reported the matter.

The body bore two gunshot wounds to the chest area along with lacerations to the abdomen and right arm.

Chunilall was a customer at another shop next to where the brothers were seated. He was shot and injured during the ordeal.