Police believe that they have smashed a major criminal gang, following an operation early this morning in First Street, Craig, East Bank Demerara that left one man dead, and another suspect and a police rank wounded.

The slain man, so far unidentified, was shot after ranks from Grove Police Station and Georgetown cornered several suspected criminals in an apartment. Another suspect, identified as Warren Mackenzie, 22, of Brutus Street, Agricola, was shot in the stomach and is undergoing surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Mackenzie was previously charged for armed robbery when he was 19.

Police recovered at least one firearm from the scene, and detained about six other suspects.

Kaieteur News understands that the ranks, apparently acting on intelligence, surrounded the house, which has several apartments, at around 02.00 hrs today. One tenant recalled hearing a ‘tumbling’ and someone shout ‘nobody move’, before gunfire erupted.

Residents later saw police ranks removing two badly wounded men from an apartment, located at the front of the building. Sources said that several known criminals were in the apartment at the time.

Indications are that the men may be linked to several armed robberies and at least one murder, including two heinous attacks that occurred on the West Coast of Demerara and on the East Coast of Demerara.