In a sequence of events that unfolded under the cover of night on the East Coast of Demerara, two armed men were captured after a thrilling chase led by residents.
The suspects, believed to be involved in a criminal plot, were pursued and apprehended following a confrontation that left one suspect injured and a stash of firearms recovered at the scene.
The incident began late Tuesday night, when a 35-year-old contractor from Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, made a discovery as he was on his way to his workshop in Annandale.
Around 21:17 hrs, the contractor spotted a suspicious white wagon parked nearby, its presence raising immediate concern. Recognising the potential threat, he warned his workers, urging them to remain vigilant.
Shortly after, three men dressed in dark clothing and armed with cutlasses emerged from the vehicle and advanced toward the workshop.
However, their plans were quickly thwarted when they noticed two of the contractor’s workers nearby. In an apparent attempt to avoid confrontation, the suspects fled the scene, driving off at high speed.
The night took a more perilous turn around midnight, when the contractor again noticed four men riding two motorcycles around the village, each seemingly armed with firearms.
Alarmed, he alerted his neighbours, who promptly rallied together to pursue the suspects, determined to prevent any harm from coming to their community.
During the high-speed chase, one of the suspects, who was riding as a pillion passenger, brazenly aimed a shotgun at the contractor’s vehicle and fired, the pellets striking the front wheel and causing significant damage. Despite the danger, the pursuit continued.
The chase turned even more chaotic when the suspects began firing back at their pursuers. One of the pillion riders fell from his motorcycle, while a second pillion rider soon met the same fate, leaving the remaining motorcyclist to flee, abandoning his injured accomplice.
The residents, undeterred by the gunfire, managed to secure the scene and discovered a 12-gauge shotgun and a .22 Beretta pistol nearby, along with eight spent 9mm shells.
One of the suspects, later identified as 30-year-old Shawn Jones, a vendor from Turkeyen, was arrested at the scene. A second suspect, who had been shot during the encounter, was found with a suspected gunshot wound to his right abdomen.
Emergency medical personnel from the Melanie Fire Station were quick to respond, providing treatment before the injured man was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he remains in serious condition under police guard.
The two recovered firearms — a 12-gauge shotgun and a .22 Beretta pistol with a partially defaced serial number — were carefully examined, secured, and logged for further analysis. In addition, gunshot residue tests were conducted on the suspects and the contractor to aid the ongoing investigation.
The police arrived at the scene shortly after 12:15 a.m. on January 15, with detectives and the Anti-Crime Patrol working swiftly to process the evidence and gather statements. The authorities have confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing, as they work to piece together the full details of the suspects’ intentions and the events that transpired that night.