Police in Regional Division 2 have arrested Fawaz Bacchus, a 40-year-old contractor of Fairfield, Essequibo Coast, who was caught on video discharging several rounds from his licensed firearm, and in the process, allegedly injuring four persons.
Commander, Khemraj Shivbaran said the alleged shooting incident occurred on Wednesday at around 14:00hrs at Fairfield, Essequibo Coast.
Enquiries disclosed that Satrohan Maraj, a 37-year-old Contractor of Leguan Island, along with his father, Roopchand Maraj, a 63-year-old Contractor; his brother Jadonauth Maraj, a 34-year-old Rice Farmer, and Rajkumarie Ragoobar, a 33-year-old female were at Fairfield, Essequibo Coast on a Dam which runs in an East to West direction.
Satrohan Maraj claimed that the dam belonged to him. He said Fawaz Bacchus, blocked the dam with a front-end loader, preventing him from having free access.
Maraj claimed that at the time of the incident, he was operating one of his excavators in an effort to move the front-end loader when Bacchus exited the loader armed with a handgun and discharged several rounds in his direction and those on the dam.
As a result, he received a gunshot wound to his right hand, and Rajkumarie Ragoobar received a gunshot wound to her right thigh. Jadonauth Maraj and Roopchand Maraj also received injuries. After discharging the rounds, Bacchus made good his escape from the scene.
The four victims were escorted to the Suddie Public Hospital, where they were seen and medically examined by Doctor Doobay. They were all treated and sent away.
The scene was visited at about 14:30hrs yesterday afternoon by ASP John and a party of policemen. The scene was processed, and four .32 spent shells and one warhead were recovered.
The suspect, Bacchus, was contacted at Fairfield, Essequibo Coast, and one .32 Taurus pistol, along with three live matching rounds were found in his possession. Further investigation revealed that Bacchus is licensed to carry the said firearm. He was arrested and escorted to the Aurora Police Station along with the weapon.
Meanwhile, at about 16:00hrs yesterday, Bacchus was escorted from the Aurora Police Station back to his home at Fairfield by Commander Shivbaran and a party of policemen.
Police searched the suspect’s home, and one Red Jacket .223 semi-automatic riffle along with 32 live matching rounds, two magazines and an Escort 12-gauge Shotgun along with three live 12-gauge cartridges and one empty casing, were found inside his home.
Bacchus is licensed to carry both the shotgun and rifle. Police also seized both weapons, in addition to the .32 pistol. Bacchus remains in custody as investigations continue.
