Unknown assailants shot a father of five dead on Saturday night on the railway embankment road.

Dead is Dexter Cummings also known as `Sicka', 33, a self-employed businessman/vendor of West La Penitence (the Island). He was shot behind the head while in a vehicle at Bel Air on the railway embankment.

According to police reports residents in the area heard three loud explosions, which sounded like gunshots, after which the man's body was found lying in a pool of blood with injuries to the head. He had in his possession a .38 special revolver, six live matching rounds, cash and articles.

His body is currently at a city mortuary awaiting a post-mortem while investigations are continuing.

According to the man's mother, Doreen Knights, and his brother, someone who knew one of the women who bore children for him called the family at about 5 am and informed them that Cummings had been shot.

The man's brother said that Cummings was recently involved in an altercation with a man, unknown to him, over some deal. Apparently he attempted to represent a friend who was involved in the deal.

"He said he received some threats," his brother told Stabroek News. He recalled that Cummings had told him of these threats a few days ago. The man had made a report to the police about these threats which he was attempting to get them to straighten out.

According to reports Cummings and the man who his friend was dealing with met in a supermarket in Georgetown on Saturday. His brother said it seemed as if the situation was a 'macho' kind of altercation as his brother had told the man he could not do anything to his friend.

Cummings was described by his brother as fearless, a man who did not back away from a challenge. He was however on the lookout as he knew someone was out to get him, his brother said.

He was of the opinion that it was probably a close friend of his brother who had taken him to the scene of the crime in a vehicle. He said this because his brother rode a CG motorcycle, which since the incident has not been found. According to Cummings' brother there is a possibility he may have been at some activity at one of the popular grounds along the East Coast of Demerara on Saturday night.

The man was very cautious about climbing into vehicles with anyone therefore it is thought by the family that he may have been lured into a vehicle by someone he knew well. The family also pointed to the fact that he was shot behind the head.

Following the shooting, the man's residence and place of business in West La Penitence were ransacked. Observers in the area where the man lived said after word spread that he had been shot persons ran through Cummings' property and removed some of his things.

Reports from relatives indicated that the persons who Cummings was involved with could have searched the house after the shooting as well. The police were also at the man's place of abode sometime after the incident occurred.

A female acquaintance of Cummings had said that he received at least two phone calls before leaving his home on Saturday evening.

His family and friends said he was a good father and took the time to take his children to and from school. The day before the incident Cummings was planning to treat his children for Father's Day yesterday.

His family also noted that he has had previous issues with the law but over minor matters such as fighting and not recently. He never spent anytime behind bars for violation of the law.

Cummings' mother related that he left home in his late teens and went into buying and selling provisions from Bartica and other places through Stabroek Market before starting his shop at West La Penitence three years ago.

Cummings has left to mourn five children, his mother, father, two sisters and four brothers.

Several men have been victims of execution-style murders recently, including Donovan Hailes, Kevin Bastemyer, and Troy Gomes. All of these cases remain unsolved together with other gruesome murders.

Gomes, 34, of Lot 2 Public Road, La Penitence was shot and killed by two assailants while sitting in a shop in Ruimveldt in late May. Bastemyer, 25, of Sophia was dragged from a pick-up on May 3 at Eccles backdam, severely beaten, shot five times and set on fire. On April 25 Hailes was shot and killed on Princes Street after being chased by the occupants of a motorcar from D'urban Street where he was walking with two friends.

Many observers believe these killings may be linked to the work of a death squad.