UPDATED: Dead gunmen, who robbed UG Assistant Registrar, identified

Last Updated on Wednesday, 9 December 2015, 17:55 by GxMedia

Two men shot dead during the early Wednesday morning standoff at South Ruimveldt with police have been identified from nearby Tuc-Ville, Georgetown.

One of them is 22-year old Edgar Blackman. Police said he had matters of burglary and escape from lawful custody pending before the court. The other man has been identified as Sherwin James, also 22 years old.

The other man has not been identified and two others escaped, police said in a statement.

Investigators said two handguns- an unlicensed 9mm. Luger pistol with 3 matching rounds and an unlicensed .38 revolver with 4 matching rounds and 2 spent shells- were recovered from the dead men.

The robbery victims identified are University of Guyana, Assistant Registrar (Admissions) Arlene Mc Lean,47 years, and her sister Ann Marie Mc Lean of Pioneer Lane, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown.

Crime sleuths said that at about 4 AM Wednesday December 09, 2015, police responded to a report of a robbery in progress at the home of the Mc Leans.  

Four men, three of whom were armed with firearms, had broken into the home and held up Arlene Mc Lean and her sister Ann Marie Mc Lean and took away a sum of cash and a cell phone.

Police said: “On arrival at the scene the police came under fire from the perpetrators who were leaving the building at the time and returned fire.

During the armed confrontation two of the men who were pursued by the police ran into a yard at Reliance Place, South Ruimveldt Park, and took cover behind a water tank from where they continued to engage the police.

During the exchange of gunfire they were shot by the police and later pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Contrary to reports carried on the Demerara Waves News Agency the two men did not hide themselves in the water tank; they took cover behind the water tank and continued to discharge rounds at the police.