Brandishing a handgun wrested from one of his victims, Solomon Elijah Blackman, formerly of the Tactical Service Unit (TSU) of the Guyana Police Force, went on a rampage at the Brickdam Police Station, in an incident that is eerily evocative of the workplace shootings by postal employees a decade ago.

Two Constables, Kester Cosbert, the first person to be shot by the assailant, and Royston Paddy, who was injured while jumping through a window in a bid to escape the onslaught, were treated by medical personnel and sent home.

Blackman, who was brought down in his murderous rampage only when another Policeman shot him in the thigh, is under Police guard at the hospital.

Sequence of Events
The Chronicle learnt that Blackman entered the compound of the Brickdam Police Station sometime after noon apparently to make a report. Moments later, in what appeared to be a surprise attack, Blackman, who had a soft drink bottle in his hand, struck Constable Kester Cosbert, who at the time was on sentry duty. He then, relieved the Constable of his holstered service revolver.

By this time, pandemonium had broken out in the Station and screams of pain and dismay filled the air.

Eyewitnesses explained that the terror and confusion eased somewhat after a Policeman shot Blackman in the thigh and pulled the revolver out of his hand. The ordinary activities of the Police Station were temporarily halted and the area in front of the Station cordoned off as the cops set about getting their wounded comrades to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

And in another wry twist of fate, the vehicle transporting the mortally wounded Griffith to the hospital collided with another car, which reportedly ran a stoplight at the corner of Middle and Camp Streets.

Tension was high at the Brickdam Police Station yesterday with visibly upset officers milling around inside the compound and vehicles scuttling in and out. Long after 14:00 hrs, scores of curious onlookers still thronged the grass verge outside the Station exchanging bits of information and expressing astonishment over the tragedy.

Georgetown Hospital scene
The scene at the emergency department of the Georgetown Hospital yesterday afternoon was far more chaotic than that at the Brickdam Police Station. Grim-faced Policemen wearing helmets and flak jackets and with their weapons at the ready moved in and out of the building, while another band of curious lookers tried to glean as much as they could of the conditions of the injured lawmen.

Lachana’s mother, his wife Rohini and his 12-year-old daughter were the first members of the victims’ families to arrive at the GPHC.

When the news of Lachana’s death reached them, they began to weep uncontrollably as by-standers looked on with deep sympathy. The Lachanas then demanded to see the body of their loved one. They were taken away in a Police vehicle shortly afterwards.

A very solemn atmosphere prevailed at the home of the dead Lance Corporal when the Chronicle visited later yesterday.

His wife, who was obviously and understandably distraught, refused to have any lengthy conversations with the media.

She however said that her husband was 39 years old and was the father of one, 12-year-old Samantha, a student of the Brickdam Secondary School. Lachana joined the Police Force in 1988.

When Griffith’s wife arrived at the hospital, she was informed that her husband had been shot and was in a critical condition.

Unfortunately, Griffith succumbed to a gunshot wound to the left side of the back and died as a result of blood loss at approximately 13:55 hrs.

When the news of his death reached his wife, she immediately began wailing and had to be consoled by relatives and other Police officers.

All efforts had been made to resuscitate Griffith, but they had failed, said Dr. Madan Rambarran, Director of Medical Services at the GPHC. Dr Rambarran was speaking at an emergency press conference at the institution later in the day.

He also noted that the staff at the hospital responded well to the emergency and were quite equipped to handle the situation.

Yesterday afternoon, when the Chronicle visited the home of Assistant Superintendent Richard Griffith at Lot 35 Middle Road, Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara (EBD), relatives and friends of the Griffith family had already gathered to offer their sympathy to his grieving widow Pamela.

Between bouts of weeping, Mrs Griffith, 49, explained that her 53-year-old husband had spent four months in the United States last year, and had planned to migrate to that country when he retired from the Force in a couple of months. Griffith joined the Police Force in 1969.

The father of Ian, 30, Griffith was described as a “nice man, who was always easy-going, and who was never involved in any problem with anyone.

Mr. Griffith said that her husband left home in a jovial mood yesterday morning to take his grandchildren to school before proceeding to his desk at the Brickdam Police Station. It was the last time she saw him alive.

The family lamented that is was difficult for them to understand how one man was allowed to cause such uproar and mayhem at the Brickdam Police Station.

Even as the Chronicle was speaking to his wife, Griffith’s sister-in-law, Ms Janet Thomas, arrived at the home, and upon hearing the news of senseless slaying, began wailing uncontrollably.

Colleague shoots soldier dead at New River camp
By Shawnel Cudjoe

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.

Ramnarine described the incident as being very serious and “bitter to swallow”. He said that the police will continue to issue press releases as investigations unfold and more information comes to light. (Shirley