TERROR GANG SMASHED…Ringleader shot dead
– 10 captured
– gun linked to Ramlall, Nandy Park killings, attack on Land Court Judge
Police have smashed the gang that was behind a recent spate of killings and violent robberies, following a SWAT team-led operation that left the gang’s alleged ringleader dead, and another suspect and a police rank wounded. Ten persons in total have been detained.
The alleged ringleader, Rolston Morrison called ‘Mappy’ or ‘Sadam’, was killed at around 02.00 hrs yesterday, after police cornered the gang in an apartment at First Street, Craig, East Bank Demerara.
Police had issued a wanted bulletin for the 29-year-old in connection with the murder of Dwayne Kennedy, who was gunned down at the Golden Grove Market on March 14, 2015.
Morrison’s last known addresses were given as Nabaclis, East Cost Demerara; Agricola, Georgetown; and Providence, East Bank Demerara.
Arrested taxi driver:
Lennox Roberts
(‘Soldier Man’)
Arrested taxi driver:
Fazeel Bacchus (Javed)
Killed: Rolston Morrison
Another suspect, identified as Warren Mackenzie, 22, of Brutus Street, Agricola, was shot in the stomach. He was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Mackenzie was previously charged for armed robbery when he was 19. A constable from the SWAT unit was shot in the thigh. His condition is stable. (see related story on page 15)
According to a Guyana Police Force release, the ranks, “working with a concerned citizen”, were able to track several persons wanted for the murders of businessman Ganesh Ramlall at La Jalousie, WCD, and Travis Rudder at Nandy Park, EBD, and the armed robbery on a Judge at her home at Felicity, ECD, to a house at Craig, EBD.
“At about 02.00 hrs, the police SWAT Team was deployed along with detectives to effect the arrests. The police ranks came under fire during which a Constable was shot to his right thigh. The injured Constable and other ranks returned fire, fatally wounding one suspect and another suspect was shot and injured to his abdomen and is under guard at the GPHC.
“Seven other male suspects who were in the building have been arrested and are in police custody.
“A 9mm. Glock pistol with two magazines and 25 matching rounds has been recovered by the police, along with two wrist watches that are suspected to have been stolen. A number of 9mm. spent shells were recovered at the scene.
“The Guyana Police Force wishes to thank the concerned citizen for the supportive efforts in these investigations so far.”
Ballistic tests reportedly showed that the Glock 9mm pistol was used to kill Ramlall, and in the attack on Commissioner of Title Nicola Pierre, and her husband, Mohamed Chand.
The 9mm. Glock pistol which police recovered during the raid
Ms. Pierre also identified some of the watches that were recovered from the gunmen.
The house where the confrontation occurred comprises several apartments. One tenant said that several known criminals were often seen congregating in the apartment in which the bandits were cornered.
One tenant said that he was awakened at around 02.00 hrs by a ‘tumbling’ and then heard someone shout ‘nobody move’, before gunfire erupted. He said that he heard about nine gunshots.
The resident said that police ranks came to his apartment and ordered him outside while they searched. He 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.
CONFESSION
Up to late yesterday, police had detained at least 10 other suspects, including two taxi drivers who allegedly provided transportation for the gang, and a driver/salesman, who is said to have provided the gunmen with information about potential targets.
Police sources said that one of the taxi drivers, identified as Fazeel Bacchus, 21, had confessed to transporting the gunmen when they killed businessman Ganesh Ramlall in his La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara home. He was aided by another taxi driver, identified as Lennox Roberts, called ‘Soldier Man.’
Bacchus reportedly told police that on the night of the attack on Ramlall, he was at a City night club, but was in constant telephone contact with ‘Soldier Man’, who was at a barbeque at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, which businessman Ramlall had also attended.
He said that ‘Soldier Man’ kept him informed via telephone about Ramlall’s movements.
Bacchus said that he was instructed to pick up some men, one from “buddys” and the two others at Agricola.
He took the men to La Jalousie where he dropped them off near Ramlall’s home.
He then went to Cornelia Ida where picked up ‘Soldier Man’, from a bar b que, while Ramlall was still there.
They then headed back to La Jalousie where their accomplices were waiting.
The bandits concealed themselves in a bushy empty lot next to Ramlall’s home, while they waited for him to arrive.
The men had reportedly walked with lengths of rope to bind their victim.
One resident claimed that he saw four men making their way towards Ramlall’s house with the aid of a flashlight, but did not take it for anything serious.
Ramlall eventually arrived, left his vehicle outside, entered the bottom flat, spoke to his wife and then went back outside to use an outdoor washroom. When he came outside, the men attacked him, and riddled him with bullets when he raised an alarm and fought back. They then fled with some of his jewellery.
The taxi driver said he heard the gunshots and the bandits breathlessly jumped into his car and ordered him to drive.
He said he drove along the rough La Jalousie ‘line top’ and emerged at Crane Public Road. He then headed back over the Demerara Harbour Bridge, where he dropped off the killers, two in Agricola and another at Daimond before returning with ‘Soldier Man’ to the West Coast Demerara bar b que venue.
Bacchus said he dropped off ‘Soldier Man’ and he went home.
According to a police source, Bacchus and ‘Soldier Man’ were not part of the gang that attacked the home of Mrs. Pierre and her husband, Mohamed Chand.
Pierre and Mohamed were asleep in their Felicity, East Coast Demerara home when several gunmen broke into the premises and attacked them.
They were awakened with blows then gun-butted until they lost consciousness.
Mr. Chand suffered severe damage to one of his eyes, forcing doctors to remove it. He also suffered head injuries that required some 35 stitches.
Kaieteur News also understands that Mrs. Pierre is being treated for a broken jaw and other injuries.
The gunmen had fled with a safe and a suitcase, but were forced to drop the items after coming under heavy gunfire from a security guard.
