Suspected armed robber dies in gunfire exchange with police, says Force

Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, 20:59 by Writer

A suspected serial armed robber was shot dead late on Monday night after he exited his residence in Linden and opened fire at police who had gone there in search of him, the Guyana Police Force said.

The incident, which occurred at about 11:45 p.m., resulted in the death of 26-year-old Shamar Prince, an unemployed man of Wall Street, Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

“As the ranks called at the apartment, Whitney Bazilio opened the western door and spoke to the ranks. Shamar Prince, who was in the apartment at the time, opened the back door (north-western side) and discharged his firearm at one of the ranks, who was forced to take cover.

“Prince then ran out of the apartment and continued discharging rounds at the ranks. The ranks took cover and returned fire in Shamar Prince’s direction. He fell to the ground at the side of the yard,” police said in a statement.

Police said he died while receiving treatment at the Linden Hospital Complex. His body bore five circular wounds to the head, shoulder and right side chest.

Police said they were investigating a report of robbery under arms committed on 38-year-old Long Xing, a Chinese businessman from Mackenzie Linden, which occurred on Monday, July 14 and other reports of armed robberies where firearms were used on Chinese business establishments.

Prince was a tenant in the lower flat of a two-storey concrete house. He and his girlfriend, 22-year-old Whitney Bazilio occupied the apartment.

Police said they found one .38 revolver containing three .38 rounds and three .38 spent shells. One box containing twenty-five .38 rounds of ammunition was found next to Shamar Prince, police added.

Police also said that one black shoulder bag was strapped around his shoulder containing one National ID card in favour of Shamar Prince, one Blu cellphone, GY$1,040, one knife and five grams of whitish rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine.

The .38 revolver, rounds, spent shells, and other articles were sealed and lodged to be escorted to the lab to be examined.

Prince’s body is at the Linden Hospital Complex Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination, police added.