Forces get tip off and move in...
Sources told Stabroek News that law enforcement officers received information that Brown and his accomplices were hiding out in a home at Lot 112, Amla Avenue and they immediately rushed to the area and cordoned it off.

But as the officers took up positions at about 4.30 pm they reportedly came under heavy gunfire from the house and they responded.

In the ensuing gun battle Brown and George somehow escaped and scaled a fence, entering an abandoned home in Deobirana Street. They then engaged officers on that street in an exchange of gunfire. Stabroek News was told that the officers were not aware that the men had entered the house but had still thrown up a cordon. It was reported that as soon as Brown and George saw the lawmen on the street they opened fire at which time the officer was shot. The police immediately retaliated with heavy gunfire and Brown and George were fatally hit.

Sergeant Standford Conway of the GDF told this newspaper that the army had learnt about the incident at about 4 pm. He said it immediately sent out troops to support the police and its helicopter which was seen flying low over the houses.

Two schoolgirls trapped in house...
He added that according to information he had received three young women, one of whom had a close association to the three men, had entered the house just before the shooting. According to Conway, the woman, who is said to be older than the others who are 18 and 19, told the teenagers that Robin was her brother and that he had just returned from the United States and she was paying him a visit. Stabroek News understands that both girls were lured into accompanying the woman. Conway told this newspaper that the teenagers said that they both had written Social Studies CXC examinations earlier yesterday.

Stabroek News was told that when the young ladies entered the house on Amla Avenue, the woman introduced them to Robin and she then whispered a few words to him. She then left the home, telling them that she was going to buy some food.

According to information, when the woman came back the policemen had already surrounded the house. It was reported that when the gunfire erupted the frightened teens clung to each other and immediately asked Robin whether he was a bandit. They had not seen Brown and George yet, but the two men came out of a room and began firing shots back at the police, before sneaking through the back door and into the other house on Deobirana Street.

While Brown and George were away, the teens began to cry and Robin at that point told them to pray, while assuring them that he was not a bandit. From all indications, Robin was not armed and as soon as Brown and George ran into the other house, the gunfire stopped at which time the young women emerged from the house surrendering themselves to the police.

The wounded teen, who sustained a gunshot wound to the left shoulder, told this newspaper she was in her home when she sustained the wound. She said upon hearing gunshots she lay flat on the floor and shielded her little brothers aged two and eight months. It was then a stray bullet struck her within inches of her siblings.

She recalled that prior to her being hit the gunmen had left their house and jumped into her yard while returning fire.

Workers hiding under desks
When Stabroek News arrived, pandemonium had gripped most of the Campbellville area with residents running out of their homes from as far as Newtown, Kitty. Others more curious were running towards the gunfire.

Workers in business places nearby said they took cover under desks as the gunfire sounded as if it was in the compound.

Policemen were seen at every corner with their guns drawn, some out of police clothing while others were in uniform, some with high powered weapons, other with small pistols.

Numerous unmarked police vehicles and officers on motorcycles raced through the avenue. Word eventually spread that three men were dead and that Brown was among them.

After the word got out about five police vehicles packed with officers raced through Stone Avenue and into Pike Street.

Police jubilant
A short time later some of the same ranks were seen running through Pike Street and Amla Avenue with their guns drawn as if looking for more criminals. Some in the crowd thought the men had got away.

But soon after, officers were celebrating. One officer, sitting in the back of a vehicle thrust his fist in the air and shouted, “Yeah! Police kill bandit!”

Reporters were denied entry into the heavily guarded houses. Police had to search one of the homes with flashlights since there was no power. In front of the house in Deobirana Street there was a large pool of blood.

Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered at the Georgetown Public Hospital awaiting the arrival of the dead men and went into a frenzy when the hearse arrived.

People flocked to get a glimpse of the bodies which were briefly displayed from the back of the hearse.

One woman, who persons identified as the reputed wife of Dillon George, broke down after viewing the bodies. She was too distraught to speak and leaned against a post staring aimlessly.

The shoot-out yesterday followed the deaths of six men on Wednesday morning in Friendship in another confrontation with the police and army. Among the men who died was another notorious criminal Romel Reman.