By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – It was a chaotic scene to behold as a three hour standoff between a berserk Businessman and Police in Georgetown on Tuesday (November 12) left four persons dead.
Among the dead are two police officers, one of whom has been identified as Constable Sherwin Pantliz and two employees of Crown’s Taxi Service (a female dispatcher and a male taxi driver). The Taxi Service was housed in the building where the incident took place.
The berserk businessman, identified as a Gold Miner Derrick Kanhai began firing shots at passersby on the road at about 14:00hrs. Police responded, but by that time the man had already shot the two employees of the Taxi Service. It was during the standoff which saw a relentless exchange of gun fire and the firing of tear gas that the two other ranks were killed.
In the end, when police gained entry to the building almost three hours after the dreadful incident commenced, the man turned the gun on himself. Kanhai’s lifeless body was taken from the Middle Street Building and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Meanwhile, according to an employee of the Taxi Service, the man who is an alleged drug addict would from time to time engage in similar practice.
“You know how much time the man does do this, people report it but nothing ain’t happen… the man get contacts so nothing don’t happen,” he remarked.
The man’s actions were said to be premeditated. His house was equipped with surveillance cameras and thick, tinted window glasses which were apparently bullet proof. The concrete struck was also grilled which in ways gave the man an advantage over police ranks.
Several Indian Nationals attached to the Balwant Singh Hospital had to be rescued by police from the neighboring building.
The incident which has in many ways thrown the citizens into a state of shock and mourning is being compared as the worst standoff between police and an armed civilian.
Despite the dangerous scene, persons were still rushing to the area of the shooting.
