The Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating an alleged shooting incident that occurred on May 24, 2022 around 20:00 hrs at Riverview, Ruimveldt.
Dead is 30-year-old Deanraj Singh, called Steve Singh, who was the reputed husband of Akisha Madramootoo, 32, a fisherwoman who resides with their three children at Riverview Squatting Area, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
Guyana Standard understands that while the couple was separated a few years ago, Singh would occasionally visit Madramootoo to assault and threaten her.
The woman stated that she was afraid of his constant threats and assault because she is aware that he has a gun. As a result, on June 25, 2021, she was granted a Protection Order by the court against him; however, he consistently violated the order by going to her house and beating her up and damaging her property.
He was also slapped with a Break and Enter Larceny charge and other offences, including assault. He also has several criminal charges pending against him.
On May 24, 2022, around 20:00 hrs, cops said that the woman was at home when Singh went to the house in violation of the Protection Order and severely beat her up. She called the Ruimveldt Police Station and reported the incident. Police ranks, including a member of the Neighbourhood Police, all responded to the report.
One of the ranks was carrying a .38 revolver and six live rounds.
The ranks went to a house at Riverview Ruimveldt, where Singh and some other friends were drinking. When he saw the ranks, he ran into a house, jumped through a window, and dashed towards the Demerara River.
The police ranks and Madramootoo chased after him.
One of the police ranks claims that while walking on the landing heading towards the river, he heard a sound coming from the bushes on the riverbank.
The cop said he saw Singh with an object in his right hand, which was followed by a loud explosion. The rank immediately discharged two rounds into the man’s direction, and he saw him run and jump into the Demerara River. The ranks searched the area for the man but he was not found.
Deonarine Boodhoo, a fisherman from Riverview Squatting Area, went to repair his boat on Wednesday May 25 2022, around 06:45hrs and discovered Singh’s body in the Demerara River, on the mudflat, lying face down.
The body was examined by crime scene technicians, who discovered one suspected gunshot wound on the right side of his abdomen.
The body is at the mortuary pending a post-mortem examination. The area was searched, but no trace of the suspected firearm was discovered.
The hands of both the deceased and the police rank, as well as clothing, were collected for the examination of gun powder residue. The firearm, ammunition and spent shells were marked, sealed, and delivered to the Ballistic Department for analysis. Statements have also been collected as the OPR investigation continues.
