Agricola man gunned down in suspected retaliatory killing 

Police are investigating what appears to be another deadly episode in an escalating feud between two Agricola families, following the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Romel Bollers on Monday morning.

Bollers, a shopkeeper of Lot 120 Brutus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara, was gunned down around 08:30h while tending to livestock at Lot 166 Titus Street. He was reportedly shot multiple times, including to his abdomen and shoulder, and was later pronounced dead at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

According to police, Bollers left his home around 08:15h to feed pigs at the Titus Street location. His sister told investigators that minutes later, she heard persons in the area saying her brother had been shot. Upon rushing to the pig pens, she found Bollers lying motionless on his back, bleeding from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. An ambulance was summoned, but the shopkeeper was already dead by the time he arrived at the medical facility.

His body bore injuries to the right shoulder, abdomen, and elbow. One 9mm spent shell was recovered from the scene. His remains were taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination, as investigations continue.

While police have not officially confirmed a motive behind the fatal shooting, this publication understands that Romel Bollers is the brother of 27-year-old Rafael Bollers, the prime suspect in the fatal shooting of Nicholas Narine, a 28-year-old labourer, which occurred just three weeks ago at Titus Street, Agricola.

In that earlier incident, Nicholas Narine, also known as “Biggs,” was reportedly working in an alleyway when Rafael allegedly approached and opened fire on him in broad daylight. Narine sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene. A post-mortem later revealed that one of the bullets had pierced his heart.

Narine’s killing sparked outrage among his relatives and community members, who described Rafael as a long-time menace with a history of violent behaviour. They also claimed that he had threatened the Narine family the night before the shooting.

Just hours after Nicholas was killed, his 22-year-old brother, Keon Narine, was arrested and charged for allegedly carrying out a revenge shooting at the home of Gideon Bollers, father of the now-dead Romel and suspect Rafael Bollers.

Police said Keon rode up to the Brutus Street house on a motorcycle and discharged several rounds before fleeing. He was later arrested and allegedly found in possession of an AR-15 rifle with live ammunition.

He reportedly told investigators that the weapon belonged to his slain brother and that he had targeted the house because Rafael Bollers had killed Nicholas. He was later charged and remanded to prison.

With the killing of Romel Bollers now added to the deadly fear, some residents of the Agricola community have expressed fear that the violence may not be over.