LETHEM, Guyana (October 24, 2025) — Police in Regional Division # 9 have arrested a 54-year-old farmer after allegedly threatening to shoot several village councillors over a domestic dispute in Shiri Village, South Central Rupununi.
According to police, ranks acted on reports from the councillors and traveled to the village, where they found the suspect, Tony Joseph, and his 33-year-old girlfriend at the home of his cousin. A search of the premises uncovered an unloaded single-barrel shotgun without a serial number.
Police said Joseph was later escorted to his home nearby, where a further search revealed a plastic bag containing five live cartridges, five spent shells, and two plastic tubes filled with gunpowder. The firearm, ammunition, and gunpowder were photographed, marked, and lodged as exhibits.
Joseph was arrested and taken to the Lethem Police Station. During questioning, he reportedly told investigators that the shotgun belonged to his cousin but admitted ownership of the cartridges, which he said were purchased in Brazil and resold to other farmers.
Police said efforts are ongoing to locate the cousin at whose residence the shotgun was found. Investigations continue.