The security guard accused of fatally shooting 32-year-old gold miner, Ceton Courtman at Sands Backdam, Cuyuni River, on Monday has been arrested and police have recovered the firearm allegedly used in the killing.
In a statement yesterday morning, police said the 27-year-old suspect, who is employed with a private security service, remains in custody as investigations continue into the fatal shooting.
According to preliminary investigations, Courtman of St. Monica Village, Upper Pomeroon River, and the security guard became involved in an altercation at about 11:50 hrs on Monday. During the confrontation, the suspect allegedly discharged a firearm, striking Courtman in the head.
Courtman was transported to the Aurora Gold Mines (AGM) Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a medic on duty.
Police said an examination of the body revealed a circular wound to the centre of the head, consistent with a gunshot injury.
Investigators recovered a Taurus .32 pistol along with 12 matching live rounds of ammunition, which have been lodged as evidence pending further investigations.
The body is expected to be transported to Bartica before being taken to Memorial Funeral Home for a post-mortem examination.
A worker who witnessed the killing told Kiskadee Watch on Monda night, on condition of anonymity, that the security guard had demanded “blai” gold from Courtman, who refused to hand it over. The guard then kicked Courtman to the ground before shooting him in the head.
`Blai’ gold refers to the small amount of gold that miners are traditionally allowed to keep for themselves after a washdown. It is usually collected from the residual gold left in the sluice box, mats, pipes or other mining equipment and is often regarded as a bonus or share for workers, separate from their wages.
“He told Ceton y’all not giving me no `blai’. They continued arguing and the security rushed up to him and tell him to represent his mouth and do something. But Ceton didn’t do anything; he was sitting in a chair. The security went back into the kitchen and collected the gun and chucked down the boy to the ground and shoot him in his head,” the witness shared.
“The security was upset that he didn’t get any `blai’. They started arguing over that and just like that he took the gun and shot him. He told the boy, ‘I like to kill people. I would collect all you money and send you home without none,’” the witness said.
The witness further shared that when the police arrived at the scene, they did not arrest the security guard and instead appeared to interact with him casually.
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