Cops searching for shooter of Commerce St clothes vendor

Paul Smith
Paul Smith

As the police investigation into the murder of clothes vendor Paul Anthony Smith continues, investigators are currently pursuing the alleged shooter, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed.

Blanhum yesterday said information has surfaced that the alleged shooter is the father of the suspect who was initially detained by the police.

He added that several checks were made for the suspect at his residence but he wasn’t located.

As the investigation continues, the man’s son, who is also a clothes vendor remains in police custody.

Smith also known as ‘Blacka”, 32, of Lot 31 Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown was fatally shot on New Year’s  Day during a confrontation.

The shooting took place around 6.30 pm at Commerce Street, Georgetown.

The police in a press statement had said enquiries revealed that Smith was observed holding a cutlass and heading to his car when he was allegedly shot by the suspect.

After being shot, Smith fell on the front passenger seat of his car.

He was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), where he was pronounced dead.

This newspaper was informed that the shooting stemmed from a confrontation between Smith and the suspects about a spot where a female, who is employed with Smith urinated.

However, Tomica Smith, the dead man’s wife yesterday told Stabroek News that since the incident she has been receiving conflicting reports on what transpired leading to the shooting.

“If I heard something Saturday, then Sunday you hearing something else and then by today (yesterday) is a whole different story. So everything just confusing…..I am not certain,” Tomica said.

“One time you hearing this and another time you hearing that and like I don’t know what to believe and everything just cluster up right now,” she added.

The woman is calling on the police to thoroughly investigate the matter, so that whoever is responsible for her husband’s death can face the consequences.

“I want to police to follow up on the investigation. Catch this guy and let him pay for the crime because at the end of the day is murder,” Tomica said.