AK47 Bandit killed in confrontation with Police!

- said to be a member of a two-man gang suspected of terrorising East Coast Demerara villages



ONE of the two bandits who have been terrorising residents of a number of East Coast Demerara villages was yesterday morning gunned down in an exchange of fire with police.

Twenty-four-year-old Courtney James, for whom the police had issued a wanted bulletin last month, and who was wanted in connection with a series of armed robberies and rapes in a number of East Coast Villages, as well as last month’s attack on Magistrate Nigel Hawke and his wife Donnelle, was shot and killed early yesterday morning.

According to reports received by us, the man was spotted jumping over the fence of a yard on Mandela Avenue, Alexander Village, Greater Georgetown, by police on a mobile patrol.

The fugitive was challenged by police, but opened fire at them.

James was shot in the exchange of gunfire that ensued and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Reports said a .32 revolver with live rounds and two spent shells were recovered at the scene.

James had narrowly escaped capture last Saturday when police raided a Haslington, East Coast Demerara house. He left two weapons an AK-47 assault rifle and a .32 revolver behind.
Authorities have also confirmed that the AK-47 is part of the stock of weapons that went missing from the Guyana Defence Force Headquarters, Camp Ayanganna in February 2006.