Guyana’s Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and two of his associates have been arrested following a shooting incident near the home of a senior police officer in Georgetown, prompting an investigation into the alleged discharge of a firearm and possession of an unlicensed weapon.
The Guyana Police Force confirmed on Tuesday, October 13, that Mohamed and his two associates, Mario Mohamed and Eugene Thorne, were taken into custody following the incident near the Barr Street residence of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, head of the police force’s Special Branch Unit.
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According to police, Narine reported seeing a black Toyota Allion travelling slowly past his residence. When the vehicle approached the property for a second time, he reportedly heard what sounded like a gunshot, took cover and fired several rounds from his service weapon in the direction of the vehicle, which then drove away.
Police later intercepted the car and arrested its three occupants. A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered a .32 Taurus pistol without a serial number and three rounds of live ammunition. Investigators also recovered a spent .32 shell near Narine’s residence and four spent 9mm shells.
The firearm, ammunition and recovered shells were submitted for ballistic testing, while investigators plan to review CCTV footage from the area.
Police are investigating the alleged discharge of a loaded firearm with intent, as well as the possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence.
Mohamed, however, has disputed the police account. During a live social media broadcast, he alleged that Narine had attempted to kill him and claimed that the firearm found in the vehicle had been planted. Mohamed and his lawyer, Siand Dhurjon, maintained that the weapon did not belong to the men.
The opposition leader said he and his associates were in the area to document what they considered an excessive police presence outside Narine’s home and what they described as the misuse of state resources.
The incident has attracted additional attention because Narine is a witness in ongoing extradition proceedings involving Mohamed and his father, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed. The proceedings relate to a United States extradition request, which the father and son have been challenging through the courts.
The arrest occurred hours before Mohamed was expected to appear before Guyana’s Court of Appeal in a separate civil matter challenging provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act.
The three men remained in police custody as investigations continued. The allegations against them have not been established in court, and the competing accounts of the incident remain subject to investigation.
