Boy, 6, watches father, grandmother hacked to death allegedly by prison escapee

David Gomes and his mother Elizabeth ‘Nellie’ Gomes

David Gomes, a 49-year-old driver of D’Urban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, and his 75-year-old mother, Elizabeth ‘Nellie’ Gomes, were chopped to death while at Saxacalli Mission, Essequibo River, on Friday.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF), in a statement, said that the brutal murder occurred between 17:00h and 20:00h.

It stated that at about 10:00h on Friday, David, his six-year-old son, and his mother travelled to Saxacalli Mission to clean up their house and surroundings.

However, the day took a tragic turn when an unexpected visitor, later identified as prison escapee Akeem Wong, arrived at their residence.

David’s six-year-old son recounted that Wong asked for food and directions upon his arrival. After sharing a meal and some drinks with David, Wong reportedly armed himself with a cutlass and launched a brutal attack on the family.

The child witnessed his father being repeatedly chopped, and when Elizabeth intervened to protect her son, she, too, was viciously attacked.

Despite being injured, David managed to fight back, and the child reported that Wong was also wounded during the attack. The suspect attempted to “wash down” the blood but fled into nearby bushes upon hearing a boat approaching.

The child, which was left traumatised but unhurt, managed to send a voice note to one of his father’s friends using his cell phone.

The bodies of the victims were discovered with multiple chop wounds, particularly to their heads.

“Investigations also revealed that prison escapee Akeem Wong was seen in the area at the location and is allegedly the person who committed the murders,” the Police added in the statement. 

Ranks are at the scene conducting further investigations. The child was also rescued.