Police ranks combing the scene

A suspected bandit underwent emergency surgery Friday night at the Georgetown Public Hospital shortly after police shot him on Thomas Street, Cummingsburg.

The man, identified by the police as Shane Hinds, did not succumb to his wounds as was previously reported and was a patient at the ICU Saturday morning Demerara Waves Online News was told.

He and another man were on a motorcycle heading north when the shooting occurred with the second individual managing to flee the scene.   

Police spokesman, Ivelaw Whittaker said the men were trailing a motor car north along Thomas Street.

"The police challenged the two men whereupon the driver opened fire with a small arm on the police who returned fire, hitting the pillion rider who has been identified as Shane Hinds, 27 years, of Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown. As a result the motor cycle fell but the driver managed to escape," said Whittaker.

Hospital sources say a handgun was found in the pants of the critically wounded man and handed over to the police. Police said that weapon is a Rossi .38 Revolver. It contained four matching rounds. A Walther .32 pistol with five rounds and a spent shell were recovered at the scene by the police.

According to the source, the man bore numerous gunshot wounds including to the chest,abdomen and arms. 

The incident occurred around 7:50 PM just outside Salod Marketing Agency, 270 Thomas Street. The men were on motorbike CG 1755.

Residents in the area said they heard at least 12 gunshots.

A woman who lives in the area,YonetteCummings, who was outside at the time was wounded in the leg in what believed to be a ricochet of one of the bullets.

Demerara Waves Online News susbequently learnt that the interception was executed by plainclothes policemen. Reports reaching DemWaves say that the cyclists were trailing the wife of a businessman who operates in the area and they in turn were being shadowed by the police who acted when the men were about to pounce on the unsuspecting woman's vehicle. 

A police source told DemWaves that a patrol had seen the men acting suspiciously and decided to follow them which susbequently led to the fateful event.