Sparendaam youth gunned down in gang feud

Oct 08, 2013 News

Michael Hamilton breathing his last

A 22-year-old man was gunned down around 17:00 hrs yesterday in Second Street, Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, during an altercation with another man with whom he had an ongoing feud.
Michael Hamilton, of 128 Sparendaam Housing Scheme, was shot in the chest by a 25-year-old man known only as ‘Oswald,’ who has reportedly gone into hiding.
One eyewitness alleged that Hamilton was armed with a cutlass when he was slain. The eyewitness claimed that the confrontation began in Cross Street, Sparendaam and that Hamilton had followed the suspect after the man had opened fire and grazed him in the leg.
Raphael Hamilton, an uncle of the slain man, alleged that his nephew and the suspect had an ongoing feud, which began after his son started a relationship with the gunman’s ‘child-mother.’
But police said last night that they appeared to be dealing with a gang feud, since they had received reports “every two mornings” of the two warring parties shooting at each other.
Kaieteur News was told that Hamilton and the suspect were seen in Cross Street shortly after 17:00 hrs and that Hamilton had a cutlass, while the other man had a handgun. Kaieteur News was told that during the confrontation, the suspect opened fire, grazing Hamilton in the leg. Kaieteur News was told that Hamilton then followed his attacker to Second Street, where he was shot dead. Kaieteur News understands that a relative of the victim had told police that she heard a gunshot and on looking outside, saw Hamilton pursuing the suspect, who then turned and shot Hamilton.
A resident recalled hearing three gunshots and later seeing Hamilton leaning against an uncle while blood gushed from a wound in the centre of his chest. He was placed in a taxi and taken to the GPHC where he was pronounced dead.
Relatives alleged that the suspect and his associates, including an individual known as ‘Trini’ had repeatedly threatened Hamilton and his cousin.  Kaieteur News understands that Hamilton was shot in the buttocks, allegedly by ‘Trini’, about two months ago.
Raphael Hamilton, the dead man’s uncle, told Kaieteur News that relatives had made repeated reports to the police at the Sparendaam Police Station but to no avail.  “We made about seven or eight reports but the police never come,” the uncle said. Kaieteur News was told it was only on Saturday last, that Hamilton’s mother, Karen, had made a report at the station but again no one came.
The uncle further told Kaieteur News that his nephew left his house some time after 17:00hrs yesterday to go to his aunt’s house about three corners away. The man said that his nephew was confronted by the suspect who according to him was “tracing” him. The man said that his nephew was shot to the leg first and then to the chest.
He was pronounced dead on arrival the Georgetown Hospital.