Police investigating three fatal shootings in Buxton
--- body of another found at Ogle seawall
by Michel Outridge
Guyana Chronicle
November 19, 2003
POLICE are investigating the fatal shootings of three men in the Buxton/Friendship area on Monday night and yesterday morning.
Police said around 22:05 hours on Monday night, Michael Dublin, 56, a businessman of Buxton, was shot several times by a wanted fugitive on the Public Road in front of his business premises, after which the gunman ran away.
Dublin was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
A police release said that about 23:15 hours Mark Cato, of Friendship, Buxton, was fatally shot in his home by a gunman who kicked open the door after the occupants refused to open it.
The wife and her 3-year-old son fled the home through another door.
This gunman had earlier discharged a number of rounds at the deceased's motorcar, which was parked outside.
The police said that seven 7.62 shells were found near the car while two 7.62 spent shells were also found near the body of the dead man.
Then at about 05:00 hours yesterday the body of Trevor Jarvis, 40, of Buxton, was found in the kitchen of the home with a gunshot wound to the neck.
In addition, the police are investigating the discovery of the body of Dexter Lionel Henry, 23, taxi driver of Sophia, who was discovered on the Ogle seawall area, with at least one bullet wound to the neck.
His mother, Ruth Ann, yesterday positively identified the body at Lyken's Funeral Parlour after she viewed the footage at Prime News.
She said that her son usually kept in contact with her via the telephone but he did not call her on Monday night but she thought nothing of it at that time
The grieving woman related that Henry was the father of one and the motorcar he operated was not his.
The troubled East Coast village of Buxton/Friendship was transformed once again into a killing zone when a lone gunman fatally shot three residents of these two neighbouring villages in what is described as yet another 'blood bath' among rival gangs and others who are said to be 'police informers'.
Yesterday when the Guyana Chronicle visited Buxton/Friendship, East Coast Demerara, the relatives of Michael Dublin, 56, of Lot 64 Middle Walk, Buxton, were still trying to ascertain why their loved one was gunned down in front of his shop where he was enjoying a game of dominoes with friends.
According to the dead man's grieving wife, Gloria Dublin, he was sitting playing a usual game of dominoes when he was called by the gunman, who was at the time asking for someone, he had concealed the weapon.
"When Dublin go de man just tek out de gun and shot he up many times, in front de place with us present, after he done shoot he, he walked away," said the man.
According to Dublin's friends he was shot some 6 to 7 times about the body as he asked why he was being shot at.
Dublin was the proprietor of a grocery, liquor parlour and snackette, which is located at Barnwell Street, Middle Walk, Buxton.
The father of six was described as a very popular figure in the East Coast village.
Reports indicated that Dublin died shortly after he was shot up at, he lived all his life at Buxton and is said to be a very friendly outgoing individual who was respected among his fellow villagers.
Gloria Dublin said yesterday that Saturday last she buried her father and now she is tasked with another funeral, this time is her husband.
His children and other relatives yesterday had gathered at his residence and are still in much shock and surprise as they comfort each other.
Loud wails and screams erupted as relatives learnt of his death as they rushed to view his bullet riddled body lying on the road side on Monday night.
Approximately, an hour after Dublin was gunned down by a gunman in front of his business premises at Middle Walk, Buxton, another man was shot by a gunman who kicked open his door and made a deadly entry discharging a hail of bullets.
Mark Cato, 33, a taxi driver of Lot 137 Friendship, Buxton, was killed when a gunman riddled his body about 22:15 hours on Monday night while Cato and his wife with her 3-year-old son were already tucked in bed.
According to Cato's wife, they has just retired to bed when they heard a knocking at their door, when they looked out the window they saw a man who asked them to open the door.
She said that they sensed that something was amiss and refused to open the door with that the man kicked open their door and entered where he whipped out a gun and began shooting her husband.
"He asked the gunman what he did when he received the first shot in his hand but the man continued to shoot him," said Cato's relatives.
The grieving 21-year-old woman managed to escape through the back door with her son during the shooting.
Reports stated that shortly before Cato was shot his car which was parked outside his home was riddled with some 20 bullets.
One relative told the Guyana Chronicle that Cato's brains was splattered on the floor while the entire house was soaked with his blood.
"He body bust up with bullets, we wash out the blood, it was horrible," said a relative yesterday.
When the Guyana Chronicle visited Cato's residence his furniture and other personal effects were being loaded into a truck.
His wife said that she is leaving Buxton for good after her near death experience on Monday night and is going to stay with her immediate family.
She woman related that Cato was a taxi driver who operated his friend's car, which has since been lodged at the Vigilance Police Station.
Cato's relatives disclosed that he had many friends whom are members of the Guyana Police Force and his friend whose car he was driving narrowly escaped on Monday night as he was being sought after by the very gunman who killed Cato.
"I can't stay here anymore I live with Cato for over 2 years here and now he is gone I have to move because I am afraid to stay," cried the woman.
While there relatives were seen washing away the blood off the bed frame as they loaded it on a truck.
The one-bedroom cottage was filled with the fresh odour of blood. It is believed that an M-70 or and a self-loading rifle (SLR) was the weapon used in Cato's murder, the police recovered seven 7.62 spent shells near his car, while two 7.62 spent shells were found near his body.
Cato was the father of one from a previous marriage, his son resides overseas.
Meanwhile, Trevor Jarvis, 40, a vendor of Lot 44 Station Street, Buxton, was found with a two bullets wounds to his body in his kitchen of his cottage about 05:00 hours on Tuesday morning.
According to the dead man's sister, Constable Jarvis, she was not at home when her brother was killed but discovered his body when she returned home that morning.
He was a vendor who frequented the markets on the East Coast of Demerara.
His relatives told the Guyana Chronicle that he sustained two shots, one to this neck and the other in his back.
He was reportedly shot from a window by a lone gunman who is believed to have carried out the two other killings on Monday night.
Residents said that they heard the shots but were too afraid to venture out as a result they stayed indoors and waited until the gunshots ended before they went to investigate.
"We hear all the shots and know dat people gon dead but we can't come out," said a resident yesterday.
Jarvis was the father of one, his cottage was being cleaned and his broken window was replaced yesterday afternoon while his sisters sat in silence as they try to come to terms with his sudden death.
A house which is located at Brusche Dam, Friendship, East Coast Demerara, was razed by fire under mysterious circumstances yesterday; when the Guyana Chronicle visited the site it was deserted except for the rubble that remained from the devastation.
Residents said that three children and their mother once occupied the house but could not give any details.