Constable executed in Sophia
Gunman's accomplice in custody
By Andre Haynes
Stabroek News
May 6, 2003
A police constable was shot dead in Sophia yesterday morning by a gunman who escaped while one of his two accomplices was taken into police custody as he was attempting to flee the scene.
Police Constable 18102 Lloyd Cameron, 23, of Lot 78 Plum Park, South Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was shot dead near the path behind the Sophia Practical Instruction Centre, whilst he and another police officer, who is believed to have been the real target of the attack, were leaving home for work. This could not however be confirmed by the Police Public Relations Department yesterday.
Cameron is the 21st policeman to be killed since April 2nd 2002. He is also the third policeman to be killed in Sophia, where Constables Colin Roberts, on December 23 and Deon Joseph, on January 30 lost their lives in similar circumstances.
Constable Cameron, who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary, was shot six times by one of the two men, while the officer accompanying him fled and is believed to have escaped uninjured. The gunmen relieved Cameron of his service weapon and ammunition as he lay bleeding from the multiple wounds.
The shooting occurred at about 8 am as Cameron, who had taken a sabbatical from duty following the recent death of his mother, was walking to work, north along First Street.
This was confirmed by a Police press statement which said Cameron was approached by the men from the opposite direction.
"One man grabbed the Constable who resisted, and they fell into a drain. [He] attempted to draw his service firearm, but the other man who was on the dam whipped out a firearm and shot him several times. Both men then fled south into Sophia, but not before taking the policeman's firearm and a magazine containing 15 rounds."
Police said four (4) 9 mm spent shells and one (1) live round were recovered at the scene.
His killers, according to eyewitnesses then made their way into Middle Street, stuffing their guns into their pockets.
Police, in large numbers, quickly responded and scoured the area, in search of the perpetrators. One of the fleeing men was later taken into police custody while his accomplices eluded capture.
A resident in the area said she had last seen Cameron as he walked past on his way out of the area.
"I said, `Lloyd. You going to work now?'"
"He said, `Yes. I turning out to work,' and he left me and he gone."
The woman said not long after she heard two gunshots which she at first thought were firecrackers. It was only when she heard a third round that she realised that the explosions were gunshots. After more shots were fired she ran out to the road and discovered Cameron.
The body lay alongside the drain for more than an hour awaiting transportation to the Georgetown Public Hospital morgue as shocked and outraged neigbours expressed anger at the manner in which Cameron was slain. The sight of his lifeless, bloodied body as it lay upon the blood-soaked earth was too much for his family and close friends to bear. His sisters and several women who looked upon him as a son were overcome by uncontrollable grief and could not be comforted.
His death came as another blow to his family which was still mourning the loss of his mother who was buried only on Wednesday. He had been a member of the Guyana Police Force for nearly four years and his family said they did have fears for his safety but these were relieved by their knowledge that he was an honest officer and an easygoing person.
Cameron was a father of two and leaves two-year-old Denzel, and three-year-old Lloyd Cameron Jnr, to mourn his passing.
Over the last 13 months, policemen have been deliberately targeted by gunmen. In addition to the 21 killed so far, attempts have been made on the lives of many other policemen. On Saturday an off-duty policeman was under surveillance by several men and when police were alerted a shootout ensued in Lodge. The two men who were tracking the movements of the policeman escaped.
