Duo shot during private function at Canje

Two men are now nursing gunshot injuries following an incident at a private gathering at New Forest, East Canje, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), in the wee hours of Monday.

The injured men are Luke Persaud, 41, and Rafeek Khan, 49 – both of Betsy Ground, East Canje.

Police confirmed that the men who pulled the trigger were “Spy” and “Boi”. They were also part of the gathering. After the shooting incident, the injured men were taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where Khan underwent emergency surgery. He was reportedly shot in the abdomen and had injuries to both arms.

Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus when contacted stated that six men were at the location imbibing and an argument subsequently ensued over a firearm.

“Apparently like one of the persons was there with a firearm. We are investigat- ing at this time if the firearm is licenced... One of the persons who were among them took the firearm and put it away. Upon discovery, one of the suspects recognised that the firearm is not where he would have left it and an argument ensued.”

According to the Commander, the firearm was subsequently found and several shots were fired indiscriminately which hit the two men.

However, Persaud’s sister, Gail Persaud, told Guyana Times that she was able to speak with her brother following the incident while adding that he had been working with a poultry farmer only for a few months.

“Well, normally he would go up there to work with the guy that reared layers and sold the eggs. So, they were busy for a few days selling the eggs and selling out the layers that lay out already. As the hard work finish, they decided to have a little ‘nice time’. They carried a grill and were doing a barbeque. These other two guys does hunt, they went up there and they saw them and they go in probably to take a couple of drinks with them and they started to be- have bad.” er guys ran into the house and lock up doors and put chairs behind the door so the two men wouldn’t get in. These guys still want to go in the house. One of them picked up a cutlass and start chopping the door and trying to break down the landing and everything.”

The woman said she was told that the suspects were in possession of a firearm when they arrived at the location but it was taken away by the owner and thrown into a clump of bush. He also asked them to leave since they were behaving badly.

After the firearm was found, the suspects started to shoot indiscriminately, thus resulting in the two victims running for cover.

While the poultry farmer, Devin Bissoon, had refused to provide information to the media, the injured man’s sister said when the bullets were fired her brother was inside the building.

“One of the bullets pass through the chair and the fragments pitch up in my brother’s face,” the woman said, while noting that Persaud suffered injuries to his face, eyes and arms.

Meanwhile, according to the Commander, all those who were at the function were taken into custody.

He said the Police found five live 12-gauge cartridges along with spent shells at the scene. Both Persaud and Khan are said to be in stable condition as the investigation continues.

“My brother and the oth-