16-year-old among four arrested over murder of Hillfoot chainsaw operator

Following the murder of 40-year-old Davanan Hosea, a chainsaw operator from Hillfoot Squatting Area along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has apprehended four suspects in connection with the crime.

In a statement, the Police Force said that around 06:00h, ranks reviewed CCTV footage from Raghu Sports Bar in Soesdyke, which showed several individuals involved in a violent altercation with the deceased.

As a result, law enforcement officials conducted a series of arrests. They captured Kevin Grandstuart, 24, of Victory Valley Road, Timehri, who was found with a black ‘Rambo’ knife, Rodwell Fraser, 21, also of Victory Valley Road, Timehri, Dwayne Bascom, 25, of Kara Kara, Linden and a 16-year-old male who was found with the victim’s cell phone in his possession.

MTV News Update reported that Hosea was robbed, beaten and stabbed to death in the wee hours of Sunday.

Davanan and his brother, Levon Hosea, 36, visited a Chinese restaurant in Coverden, East Bank Demerara (EBD), around 18:00h on Saturday.

Levon eventually left Davanan at the restaurant. However, around 21:00h, Davanan called Levon, asking him to join him at the Raghu Sports Bar on the Soesdyke Public Road.

Upon Levon’s arrival, the two brothers purchased alcoholic beverages. During this time, Davanan expressed concern that a group of men at the bar were staring at him suspiciously.

The situation escalated when the men approached Davanan, forcibly taking his valuables in the presence of his brother.

In an attempt to defend his brother, Levon confronted the men, which led to a physical altercation. The brothers managed to flee from the bar, dashing through Shawnie Gas Station and into a track behind it.

Unfortunately, the assailants pursued them, eventually catching up with Davanan, which led to a violent scuffle.

Levon, who took a different route to escape, later witnessed his brother severely injured. He reported seeing blood on Davanan’s chest as he collapsed along the Hillfoot Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

Upon examination, the police found multiple injuries on Davanan Hosea’s body, including a stab wound to the left side of his abdomen.

Davanan’s body was transported to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor.

The remains have since been moved to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, pending a post-mortem examination. Following the incident, Police had detained a 27-year-old salesman.