Accomplice of convicted mass murderer killed in shootout in Guyana

Guyana police say a man believed to be an accomplice of prison escapee and convicted mass murderer Royden “Smallie” Williams was killed in a shootout with Police on Sunday.

“Intelligence-led to a confrontation with one of the accomplices, who was fatally shot,” a police statement said but did not immediately name the dead man.

According to the statement, no firearm was recovered in the shootout at St Mary’s Logging Area,  Essequibo River, about 58 miles south of Bartica.

“Smallie” who was sentenced to death for the murder of eight persons during the Bartica massacre in 2018 remained on the run on Sunday, nine days after he fled the Mazaruni Prison in a hail of gunfire between heavily armed gunmen and prison guards.

He was also found guilty for the murder of a Guyana Defence Force soldier.

The Guyana police said they are intensifying the search for the convicted killer and his accomplices.

Last week, four prison officers, a businessman and a Venezuelan woman were charged with conspiring to facilitate the escape of Williams from the Mazaruni Prison.

Rajmohan Autor called “Chico’, age 48 years, a businessman of Parika Outfall, Fast Bank Essequibo; Frangeliz Jugandry Flores Perez, age 28 years, a Venezuelan National of Alexander Street Kitty; Omar Witherspoon, Prison Officer #3775, age 26 years of lot 41 Stanley town, New Amsterdam, Berbice; Conroy Hosannah, Prison Officer #3429, age 35 years of lot 218 Forth Ordinance Housing Scheme, East Canjie, Berbice; Oldfield Romulus,age 50 years, a Prison Officer of Lot 136 Victoria Cumberland Village, East Canji Berbice and Alexander Hopkinson, age 59 years, a prison officer of 5 Miles Housing Scheme Bartica Potaro Road have all been charged.

Police said that on May 19, 2023, they conspired with other persons, still unknown, to assist Royden Williams also known as Mark Williams and Royden Durant called “Smallie” in escaping from lawful custody under sentence of death.

CMC/