Road rage is motive behind shooting of taxi driver -Commander

by Michael Jordan

As taxi driver Shaheed Amanat remains in critical condition at a private hospital, Regional Commander Khali Pareshram has revealed to BIG Smith News Watch that the brazen January 12 shooting was an act of road rage.

Pareshram said investigators came to this conclusion after interviewing a number of individuals and viewing security camera footage of the confrontation between the victim and bikers.

He declined to elaborate due to the sensitive nature of the investigstion, but stressed that robbery had been ruled out as a motive.

Asked whether the bullet that struck Amanat could have been fired by someone in Amanat’s car, Pareshram said “we are still investigating.”

Asked about the arrest and subsequent release of a young man who was also in the car, the Commander stated that the passenger and others had been swabbed for possible traces of gunpowder residue.

On Friday, January 16, police apprehended 19-year-old Kobie Isiah Benjamin, who is suspected to be one of the bikers who pursued Amanat’s car.

Police said he was nabbed at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, while hiding in the ceiling of a house.

A wanted bulletin for attempted murder and attempted robbery under arms was initially issued for the teen.

According to reports, Shaheed Amanat, accompanied by a friend, was driving along the East Coast Demerara public road at around 23.45 hrs on Monday, July 12, when he was pursued by a number of bikers.

A bullet shattered a window on the right side of the vehicle and Amanat crashed into a metal rail after being shot in the head.

He was transported to the Enmore Regional Hospital, before being transferred to a private facility, where he reportedly underwent surgery.