Man killed in “confrontation” with Joint Services

Last Updated on Thursday, 1 June 2023, 10:30 by Denis Chabrol

A man was shot dead during an exchange of gunfire with members of the Joint Services, but police on Thursday declined to confirm or deny whether the person killed was death row murder convict, Royden ‘Smallie’ Williams who escaped from the Mazaruni Prison last month.

“One person was indeed shot and killed during a confrontation with members of Joint Services, and a rifle recovered. Investigators are en route to the location,” Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Assistant Commissioner Wendell Blanhum told Demerara Waves Online News.

Pressed for details on where and when the shootout occurred, Mr Blanhum said a statement would be issued later.

The killing of this unnamed person came four days after one of Williams’ accomplices was shot and killed. Police alleged that the man was shot dead after he snatched a policeman’s gun, cranked and pointed the weapon at the Joint Services team that intercepted him.

Police and the prison service had said that Williams escaped in a boat during a shootout between several men in a boat and prison guards. At the time he was being taken back to his cell on All Terrain Vehicle after a Venezuelan woman had just visited him.

She, a businessman and several prison guards have all been charged with facilitating Williams’ escape.

Police said that on May 19, 2023, they conspired with other persons unknown to assist Royden Williams also known as Mark Williams and Royden Durant called “Smallie” in escaping from lawful custody under sentence of death.

Williams was sentenced to death for the murder of eight persons during the Bartica massacre in 2018. He was also found guilty for the murder of a Guyana Defence Force soldier.