It arrived at Camp Ayanganna by helicopter around 11:50 hrs.

Scores of soldiers, media personnel and relatives of the dead man rushed to the helicopter as it landed to see the body but were prevented from doing so by army ranks.

Todd, 19, of Lot 207 South Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD) who was reportedly shot several times in the head, was stationed at the New River Triangle army base camp at the time of the incident.

Father of the dead man, Mr. Lebert Todd, who was at Camp Ayanganna and spoke briefly with the media said that he received the information about his son’s death about midnight when army personnel visited his home.

“They told me that my son was fatally shot … by another officer”.

Todd joined the army about two years ago and according to his father never reported having any problems with his colleagues that could have triggered such an incident.

According to Todd, the last time he saw his son was five weeks ago when he visited. He said his son was a jovial and easy-going person.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in a press release stated that the soldier “was shot following an altercation with another rank stationed at the same location”.

The release also stated that as part of their investigations, a Board of Inquiry has been convened and members of the Board have been dispatched to the location.

Todd leaves to mourn his father, three brothers and one sister. His mother passed away about one and a half years ago.

Home Affairs Minister, Police Commissioner visit injured rank

The two ranks mortally wounded were Assistant Superintendent Richard Griffith of McDoom and Lance Corporal Ramnaraine Lachana, who resided at the Ruimveldt Police compound.

Constables Royston Paddy and Kester Cosbert who sustained minor injuries in the attack were treated at the Georgetown Hospital and sent away. The third rank seriously wounded and being carefully monitored by doctors at the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Hospital is Corporal Clifton Nelson.

Minister Gajraj, and Commissioner Felix, who yesterday afternoon headed a delegation of top officials of the Guyana Police Force on a visit to the wounded Corporal Nelson, expressed deep regret over the incident.

Minister Gajraj, noting that the important thing now is to see the policeman get better, pledged that his Ministry and the force will do all they could to ensure this happens. The Minister said he had already spoken with several doctors at the hospital who will be responsible for Nelson’s care and management.

Gajraj said that even though President Jagdeo is out of the country, he had been informed of the tragedy.

“I have been in contact with him on several occasions and he is very concerned about what happens. He is concerned about the welfare of the ranks wounded, as well as their families’ welfare…”

“We would like to ensure that you get the best possible care and treatment, and we would like to reassure your family of this,” Gajraj stated.

And Commissioner Felix told the wounded cop: “We have come to thank you for your excellent performance and to say how saddened we are about your injury.”

The Commissioner assured him that the entire Guyana Police Force is ‘behind’ him and would do everything they possibly could to assist him in his recovery. The Commissioner promised that the Welfare Officer would continue to visit regularly to look into his needs.

Earlier, Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent David Ramnarine, who spoke with the Chronicle, expressed shock and at the shooting incident committed by ex-policeman Solomon Blackman.