The killing of Superintendent of Police, Leon Fraser, has left members of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) in a state of shock.

"I couldn't believe it when I got the news," Mahendra Persaud, secretary of the GNRA told Stabroek News when contacted by phone yesterday. "When I called other association members, they all expressed the same feeling."

GNRA Vice-President, Neville Denny, described Fraser as a disciplined individual and hard worker in the field, one who was liked by everyone he associated with. "There is nothing else but good words for him from the association," Denny said.

Hemant Narine, GNRA's assistant secretary/treasurer and head of the Hand Gun Section of the association, said that though Fraser was a police officer, when he was around a hand gun shoot, he would follow the rules and do what he had to do.

Former Caribbean Fullbore champion, Ransford Goodluck, said "Leon was a very friendly and pleasant person. He was simple, ... one of the persons one would want to have around. Even though he was a junior shooter in the late 90's, he would give advice to the older guys. He was a real team person."

Fraser died of a gunshot wound to his head on Tuesday afternoon. He was shot in the Yarowkabra area of the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, while responding to a report that the February 23, jailbreak five were seen in the area.

Fraser joined the GNRA in 1996 and represented Guyana at the Caribbean championships in Jamaica where he was crowned champion junior shooter.

The following year, Fraser was again selected for the Caribbean championships, which were staged in Trinidad, and according to Goodluck, won several medals and trophies.

While he did not compete in the 1998 championships in Barbados, Fraser accompanied the team and offered his support.

It was while in Barbados that year that he tied the knot with Nadia, his wife, who he had taken to Barbados for a holiday.

Persaud and Goodluck pointed out that because of Fraser's work commitment with the police force, he could not have continued with the sport as he would have liked, but he was one of the most promising shooters.

"It was difficult for him [Fraser] to work at nights then shoot the next day in the hot sun," Persaud stated.

However, Denny said that Fraser was planning to make a comeback and the association was behind him in this area since he would have strengthened the local team.

Fraser used a 7.62 mm rifle in competitions up to 1998, but then joined the Hand Gun Section and was a senior member when Narine joined.

Fraser was one of three top shooters in the section and prior to his demise, was selected to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Hand Gun Championships. He was selected for the Air Pistol team as well as the 9 mm FBI/Combat Shoot team.

According to Narine, members of the section never looked at Fraser as a policeman, but as a senior member of the club. "He was one of the men who gave me valuable advice," Narine stated, adding, "he will be sadly missed."