Intoxicated men who brandished firearms, shot at lorry, arrested during getaway attempt

Police arrested four men Tuesday night and confiscated three Glock pistols following a violent confrontation on Garnett and Middleton Streets.

The incident began around 1:00 hrs when Samora Haddaway, a 41-year-old driver from Timehri, was waiting at the wheel of his lorry (#GAG 1844) on Middleton Street, preparing to transport a container. Haddaway’s 53-year-old porter, Ovid Thomas, was securing the container when five men approached the scene. Two of these men were visibly intoxicated and brandishing handguns.

According to a statement from Police Headquarters, the suspects, evidently under the influence of alcohol, began assaulting the lorry driver. As things escalated, they pointed their firearms at Haddaway, who, fearing for his life, took cover inside the vehicle. He told police that he recalled the sound of gunfire as several shots rang out.

The suspects fled in a white motorcar, #PAF 9078. However, their escape was short-lived. As they attempted to evade capture, the car skidded into a road defect on Vlissengen Road, blowing out two of its right-side tyres. The vehicle came to a halt near the Survival Supermarket, where police quickly surrounded it.

A swift search of the car yielded three Glock pistols, each loaded with a significant amount of ammunition—11, 17, and 16 rounds, respectively. The four occupants of the vehicle—Stephan Ramdass (39) from Great Diamond, EBD; Patrick Forbes (30) from Wales Housing Scheme, WBD; Raji Chanderpaul (41) from Better Hope, ECD; and Mahesh Budho from Cummings Lodge, ECD—were taken into custody.

All four men were questioned regarding firearm licenses, but none could provide documentation. They were transported to the Alberttown Police Station, where they remain in custody along with the seized weapons and ammunition. The firearms and ammunition have been secured pending further investigation.