The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is yet to issue a statement on the murder but Kaieteur News understands that the victim is Ariel Betancourt Ramírez of Lot 128 Middle Road, La Penitence. Ramírez was reportedly stabbed by two men on bicycles at around 14:00h. Eyewitnesses said that the men attempted to relieve the man of his valuables.

Residents told Kaieteur News that Ramírez fought the duo and was stabbed in the process. He was seen lying on the road and residents said they quickly called the police. Shortly after, the Cuban national was pronounced dead and his body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. Residents said they heard noise and dogs barking for a prolonged period which alerted them that something was wrong.

“I was inside and then I heard the dogs them barking and when I come outside, I saw the guy lying on the ground near a taxi man and the neighbours them outside… I start calling 911, cause at first I think it was an accident, is the taxi driver what saw everything he said no it’s not an accident, two skinny guys on the bike rob he and gone riding up the road and like he fight back with them,” a Middle Road resident told Kaieteur News. The woman explained that she does not know the victim personally but would see him walking through the street daily to pick up a woman, believed to be his wife from work.

“Normally pun ah afternoon, his wife does come off at the head of the road with bus so he normally go and pick up his wife and walk her back in as protection but they coming from that same direction which he walking to and they see he and ride and turn back for he,” the woman related. Another resident said he was inside his home when he heard the commotion which prompted him to look outside.

“When I come out, I see two boys jump on their bicycles and the man on the ground… one of them with a knife in his hand and they ride and gone,” he recounted. (Kaieteur News)