Raphael Piggott executed in Cummings Lodge

Nov 09, 2008 News

– friend escapes unhurt

An unidentified gunman opened fire on two occupants of a car, killing the driver in what police are describing as an execution.
Dead is Raphael Piggott, of 48 Arapaima Street, Guyhoc Park, and formerly of Ituni. He was shot in his upper body with a .45 calibre gun.
The other person in the vehicle is reported to be a miner who lives at Fifth Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, where the incident occurred at around 18:00 hours.
Reports are that Piggott was returning to the city from Berbice and had stopped at the miner’s residence when he was shot.
Eyewitnesses said that as Piggott was turning around his vehicle, a lone gunman opened fire on him, hitting him twice.
Piggott tried to drive away but was so mortally wounded that the car ended up crashing into a nearby chain link fence.
The miner told police that he tried to control the car from the passenger side but Piggott’s foot was still on the accelerator, making his attempt futile.
Police recovered two spent shells at the scene.
According to a family member, Piggott was threatened by a former brother-in-law who had pledged to get even following a soured financial transaction.
There are reports that the two men had travelled to Suriname since Thursday.
A neighbour said that Piggott was familiar with many miners, since he could speak different languages, and would accompany them to neighbouring countries to assist them in the conduct of their business.
He leaves to mourn one child and a pregnant wife.