A robbery at a business establishment in Lethem, Central Rupununi, on Tuesday afternoon ended in violence after police reportedly exchanged gunfire with three fleeing suspects during a pursuit through a flooded area.
According to police reports, the incident occurred at about 2 p.m. as a 27-year-old businessman was conducting transactions inside his business place.
Investigators say two men entered the establishment, one of them armed with a handgun, and approached the cashier section. The armed suspect allegedly pointed the weapon at the businessman and demanded cash.
Fearing for his safety, the victim reportedly handed over approximately $650,000 in Guyana currency along with an undisclosed quantity of Brazilian reais. The two men then left the building and escaped on a motorcycle driven by a third accomplice waiting nearby.
Police in Lethem were alerted immediately and launched a search operation in the direction the suspects were last seen heading.
Ranks later encountered men who allegedly attempted to evade capture and reportedly opened fire on the police during the chase. Police returned fire as the suspects fled into a heavily vegetated and flooded section of land.
Investigators say two of the suspects were eventually located. A 35-year-old man of Central Rupununi was arrested and remains in custody assisting with investigations. A second suspect, an 18-year-old man, was later found with gunshot wounds in the Tabatinga area and subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
Police also recovered a motorcycle believed to have been used during the robbery, along with two helmets suspected to belong to the men involved. During a search of the area, officers reportedly found a haversack containing a quantity of the stolen cash.
Law enforcement authorities are continuing their investigations and are searching for the third suspect, who remains at large.
The report was filed for LRTVS Newswatch by Delon Adams.