Two policemen were killed and two others seriously injured when a former policeman disarmed the sentry at the Brickdam Police Station and opened fire.

The assailant, Solomon Blackman of 34 Bent Street, Wortmanville, only stopped shooting when he was shot. He remains under police guard at the hospital where he has told the reporters the attack was justified since he was unlawfully evicted from his home yesterday morning.(see other story on page 3)

Those dead are Lance Corporal 14177, Ramnarine Latchana of Ruimveldt Police Station compound and Assistant Superintendent Richard Griffith of 35 Middle Street, McDoom, East Bank Demerara.

Those injured as a result of the shooting are Corporal Clifton Nelson and Kesier Cosbert while Royston Paddy was hurt when he jumped through a window to escape.

Apart from Nelson, the other ranks received treatment and were sent away.

From all indications, Blackman, a former sergeant in the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) had some grouses with the police. Several persons described him as being unstable and recalled occasions when he had verbally abused magistrates at the Georgetown courts. The police said he was a convicted felon and had a matter pending.

A release from the Police Public Relations Office said Blackman was shot in the leg by a policeman, subdued and relieved of the firearm. According to the police, initial reports disclosed that Blackman went to the Georgetown Magistrate's Court earlier and subsequently the Brickdam Police Station to make inquiries in relation to being evicted from his home. While at the station, Blackman suddenly attacked Constable Cosbert who was the compound sentry and lashed him in the head with a bottle.

Cosbert fell and Blackman snatched his firearm from his holster and shot him in his right leg.

Leaving Cosbert, Blackman moved to the lock-ups area where he came upon Latchana. He reportedly stood over the policeman and discharged two rounds, one to his head and the other to his chest. Latchana died on the spot, while Blackman continued on to the enquiries office where he shot Nelson in the abdomen and shoulder. No one attempted to confront Solomon and while he shot his way through the compound some of the female officers ducked under their office desks and cried for help.

The release said Solomon then ran into the Traffic Office, broke a window to Griffith's office and shot him in the abdomen. It was at this point that Paddy jumped through the window to escape.

The police say Solomon was eventually confronted by a policeman who shot him in the leg.

Stabroek News was told the officer, who works on the top flat of the building, was the only one who readily ran downstairs and shot Solomon. Most of the other ranks ran for cover.

All the victims were rushed to the Georgetown Hospital, where Latchana was pronounced dead on arrival; Griffith succumbed later while undergoing medical attention.

When Stabroek News arrived outside the Brickdam Police Station, the road was blocked off and police were roaming around in battle gear.

One eyewitness recalled Latchana pleading for his life.

"Man nah me! nah me! me nah do you nothing," he reportedly said.

The witness said Solomon also begged for his life after being subdued, but officers looking down from the station verandah called on the officer to shoot him.

At the hospital, security guards had their hands full as curious onlookers refused to be kept at bay. At one point the front door of the unit had to be shut.

Meanwhile, the police car that was transporting Griffith crashed while speeding up Camp Street on its way to the hospital. A female officer, Odetta Fitzalbert was injured and taken to the hospital unconscious before recovering.

Latchana's body was being wheeled to the mortuary when his relatives arrived.

His 11-year-old daughter Samantha Latchana described him as a very pleasant father who cared and loved his family. His wife Rohini remembered his last words to her yesterday morning before he left for work: "Take care sweetheart, I will take care too."

Latchana who joined the police ranks in May 1988 leaves to mourn his only daughter, his wife and mother Poonia Latchana.

Pamela Griffith, the widow of ASP Richard Griffith was at the hospital within 30 minutes of the shooting but had to wait until around 2 pm before she knew her husband was dead. She was furious, claiming the police were trying to hide the truth from her. Pamela had been married to the recently promoted ASP for some 24 years. "My husband was really a nice man. We lived well together and now look what happened."

At her home later yesterday she mentioned that it was only recently she and her husband returned home after spending a few weeks in the US. She said they were slated to migrate permanently in another two weeks. Griffith, who joined the force in September of 1969, also leaves to mourn his only child Eon Griffith and five grandchildren.

Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr Madan Rambarran and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Hospital, Michael Khan held a press briefing just after the confusion died down. Dr Rambarran told reporters that there were enough doctors on hand but others were called out.

Dr Rambarran said Griffith arrived at the hospital in a state of shock after receiving one shot to his back and despite valiant efforts from the staff he did not regain consciousness. He said the officer died from internal bleeding resulting in severe blood loss. He was confident that the other ranks would recover fully.

Solomon Blackman says the attack on the police ranks was justified and would free him of prosecution.

Shackled to his hospital bed and under police guard, Blackman said the attack that killed two police ranks and injured two others was the direct result of several foiled assassination attempts on his life.

He said the police turned up at his Bent Street residence and unlawfully evicted him yesterday morning. According to him, the removal came without any lawful reason.

He said that the home was bequeathed to him by former president Forbes Burnham. Blackman said that legal documents bearing his name are now in the hands of Mayor Hamilton Green.

He said he went straight to the Georgetown Magistrates' Court and relayed details of his alleged wrongful ejection to a magistrate.

Reports reaching this newspaper are that he turned up at the court and disrupted a session that was on at the time. He reportedly ranted in the courtroom and was asked to leave.

He said he had peacefully told his story to the magistrate who found his tragedy humorous. This he said led to a rude outburst and he was again asked to leave the court.

He left and made his way to Brickdam where he said he asked to speak with an officer and was told to leave the compound.

He then marched into the Enquiries Department but was again asked to leave. He said that the officers then threatened to kill him if he failed to leave.

According to Blackman, the officers then assaulted him and while on the way out he relieved one of the ranks of his weapon and started firing.

He recalls shooting several police ranks and then being shot. He said he did not enter the station with the intent to kill but after being provoked he lost his cool.

Blackman told this newspaper that he had several confrontations with the police, the most recent one being late last year when he attempted to expose what he says are the ills of the present regime.

He said he had written to treason accused prisoner Mark Benschop. He said the letter "of grave importance on matters of national interest" never reached Benschop since police at the prison intervened.

He said the police late last year then visited him at his Bent Street home and shot him in the leg after he rebelled against going to the station. Blackman said the police turned around and charged him with assaulting a police officer.

After he appeared in court and was released on self-bail the police continued to visit his home. He said he escaped being killed countless times.

Meanwhile, Commission-er of Police Winston Felix accompanied Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj and senior police ranks to the Georgetown Public Hospital last evening to lend support to the injured rank, Clifton Nelson.

Felix said the force is looking into Nelson's welfare and described the attack at Brickdam as unfortunate, adding that it is the result of a sudden attack not idleness among ranks who were on duty at the time.

Asserting that security did not fail, Felix said that the perpetrator gave a legitimate claim upon entering the compound which later resulted in the attack.

Gajraj assured Nelson he had consulted with several doctors who would see to his recovery.

He said that he had contacted President Bharrat Jagdeo and briefed him on the attack moments after the shooting.