Killed bandit has loan at Republic Bank
ELTON WRAY, the bandit killed in Tuesday’s attempted robbery on Republic Bank had recently secured a loan from the said institution to purchase his Nissan Juke car, which he had parked in South Ruimveldt while attacking the bank.
Wray was also a China-trained agronomist and former crop extension officer of the National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI). His accomplices have been identified as Jamal Haynes, a Republic Bank staff member of Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, and Keron Sanders. Police located Wray’s Nissan Duke, PWW 1452 abandoned in the Royal Castle parking lot in South Ruimveldt.
Meanwhile, when the Guyana Chronicle, visited Wray’s apartment at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Wednesday, no one was home, however his neighbours told this publication that the apartment was also occupied by Jamal Haynes-one of the captured bandits and Wray’s girlfriend-a Russian.
“We were shocked when we got the news because those people were so quiet…they were living there for a while now and they would usually say hi and bye and just go about their business,” said one of the neighbours. The individuals were always neat so the news of them being involved in such an act was “shocking,” they said.
One neighbour said it is even scary because she was not even aware of what the people who live next to her are capable of. On Tuesday when news broke of Wray’s status, citizens expressed outrage but many persons have told the Guyana Chronicle that Wray whose father holds a senior rank in the Guyana Police Force was a known robber. “He was involved in a lot of things…he was following friends,” a source at Wray’s work place told this newspaper. The source said Wray, 25, was only on Friday last involved in a heated argument at NAREI. “He was requesting a transfer from his department since he is known for having problems with authority at work. He had received multiple negative appraisals at NAREI,” the sources said.
In a statement, Managing-Director of Professional Guard Service (PGS), Sean Kirkpatrick, whose company provides security service for the bank, had noted that Tuesday morning three armed men entered the Republic Bank, Water Street Branch before it was open to the public. The perpetrators wore masks, gloves and carried handguns with which they opened fire on the RBL personnel inside the building. PGS security personnel, who were on site, immediately raised an alarm and Armed Response Teams proceeded to the location. Arriving shortly after the alarm had been raised, the teams assessed the situation and took up defensive positions.
“The gunmen then opened fire on the teams who returned fire, being mindful of the civilian personnel caught in the exchange. Thanks to the prompt support of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) all three attackers were apprehended and the robbery averted,” PGS stated. “Professional Guard Service is very proud of all our personnel who through their professionalism and heroism were able to thwart this brazen attack. PGS wishes to commend the personnel of the Guyana Police Force for their outstanding performance and will continue to cooperate with the Guyana Police Force in the ongoing investigation of this incident.”
Police said three firearms, including two 9 MM handguns and one .40 gun were found. The case is being investigated by ranks of the Major Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Due to the trio’s attempt, the bank’s Water Street branch was closed on Tuesday, but an advertisement from the bank highlighted that they will reopen for business from today.
