The armed suspect who was killed by police ranks in Berbice on Tuesday morning during an alleged confrontation at a farm at Lochaber Village, West Canje, was identified as Rondell Marks also called “Romel Hoppie or Blackie”, 34, of Suddie Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast.
Based on the reports provided by the Police, a cattle and livestock farmer from Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice, reported that a flock of 29 sheep were stolen from his ranch at Calabash Creek, East Canje on November 12, 2016.
The Police got wind that 12 of the stolen sheep were tied at the back of the farm house at Lochaber Village, West Canje, Berbice. After the livestock owner positively identified the sheep as his, the police went to the front of the building to confront Marks who was residing there at that point in time.
Marks on seeing the Police however, “rushed into the house, armed himself with a handgun and attempted to shoot the armed policeman who followed closely behind him and during this engagement the rank discharged his firearm several times at the suspect who fell.”
He was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he was pronounced DOA (Dead On Arrival). A post mortem examination is expected soon, as the body has been identified.
It was disclosed that, an unlicensed silver coloured Taurus pistol and six live matching rounds were retrieved in the farm house and further checks unearthed the following articles; “One plum phone, two silver finger rings, one silver chain, one Compact Laptop Computer, and several electronic gadgets.”
The first four items, according to the Police, were positively identified by one Ravendra Bipram, 27, of Anchorville, Port Mourant, Berbice, as his properties. He was allegedly robbed at gunpoint about 19:30 hrs on November 11, 2016, at Smythfield Access Road, New Amsterdam, Berbice, by a male fitting the description of the deceased.
The person who also robbed Bipram brandished and discharged a round in his direction, from a silver handgun, presumably similar to the Taurus pistol retrieved by the officers in the farm house.
