Ramesh Radcliffe, 45, proprietor of the Texaco Service Station at Strathspey, East Coast Demerara, and of Lot 126 Latchmie Street, South Better Hope, also on the East Coast, was shot several times about the body and head by two gunmen in the white car, a close family friend said.

A relative said his life had been threatened and his gas station was shot up twice between last year and early this year by unknown gunmen.

Investigators are looking into reports that his murder was triggered by a dispute with rivals, a source said last night.

The relative said he had always talked of being a target and often received threatening telephone calls from unknown men.

The family friend said that at about 21:40 hrs on Wednesday, Radcliffe was about to open the left side gate to drive his car into the yard and was standing when a motorcar drove up and the gunmen opened fire on the hapless businessman.

She said he had just seconds before put the padlock and his licenced firearm on a bench by the gate.

The distraught friend recalled that it was routine for Radcliffe to drop off an employee who resides at Ogle, also on the East Coast Demerara, before going home and Wednesday night was no exception.

Just minutes before Radcliffe had stopped briefly to chat with a friend and his wife sitting outside their yard nearby, she said.

His 74-year-old mother, alone in the house at the time, witnessed her son's execution.

The friend said she was as normal waiting on her son to return home from working at the gas station when she peeked out a front window and saw him fall, mortally wounded.

The elderly woman has since taken ill and was yesterday unable to venture out of bed.

A neighbour recalled hearing rapid gunshots and after it was quiet again, ventured out and saw Radcliffe lying in a pool of blood in his yard by the gate, his car still parked on his bridge.

Another resident said that after the gunmen shot Radcliffe, they sped away because villagers who are licenced firearm holders discharged a few rounds in the air to ward them off.

Radcliffe's wife recently left Guyana for the United States with their son to enroll him in a university there, the family friend said.

Police said 11 9mm spent shells and five warheads were recovered at the scene.

A lone gunman on a motorcycle opened fire on the gas station at about 01:45 hrs on November 29 last year.

The two employees who were on duty then said the gunman had stopped in front of the gas station and fired about three times before riding off. The bullets hit the walls and gas pumps.

Two gunmen opened fire on four fuel pumps on January 5 this year and the gas station was temporarily closed after this shooting.

The gunmen, who arrived on foot, went into the petrol station and discharged about 12 rounds which damaged all four of the fuel pumps.

In both instances the gunmen were not interested in cash because employees were not robbed.

Radcliffe four years ago took over the Texaco Service Station at Strathspey and was about to embark on another business deal, relatives said yesterday.

He was the new franchise holder for the Texaco Service Station at Success, also on the East Coast, which was scheduled to be officially re-opened on Sunday.

Crime Chief Henry Greene visited the scene early yesterday morning and spoke with relatives.