Man kills partner, turns gun on self

Police are investigating an alleged murder and attempted suicide that unfolded on Tuesday evening, claiming the life of 30-year-old Marissa Beete, an employee of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

The incident occurred between 18:15 and 19:00 hrs at Beete’s residence at Lot 706 Recht-Door-Zee, West Bank Demerara.

According to reports, the suspect, 47-year-old Ghalee Khan—a security personnel attached to the Integrated Security Service—allegedly shot Beete before turning the gun on himself. Khan, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head, is currently hospitalised in serious condition and undergoing surgery.

Preliminary investigations reveal that Beete and Khan had been in a romantic relationship for the past two years, which had recently ended due to a misunderstanding. On the day of the incident, Beete was at home with her 62-year-old mother, Jennifer Vaughn, when she received a phone call from Khan, who asked to speak with her.

Despite her mother’s objections, Beete invited Khan into the home. Vaughn told police she left the room to give the pair privacy, but moments later, she heard her daughter cry out, “Mommy,” followed by a loud explosion.

Rushing to the living room, Vaughn reportedly found her daughter slumped on the floor, bleeding from what appeared to be a head wound. Khan was seen standing over her with what appeared to be a firearm. Vaughn said she tried to intervene, but Khan fired another shot in an unknown direction and pushed her to the ground. He then allegedly turned the weapon on himself and shot himself once in the head.

Public-spirited citizens transported both Beete and Khan to the West Demerara Regional Hospital in an unconscious state. Beete was pronounced dead on arrival. A bullet wound was observed above her right eye. Her body has since been taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Police at the scene recovered the suspected firearm, along with three live rounds of ammunition. Investigators have since collected several items for forensic analysis and are continuing to question witnesses as the probe continues.