Giovanni 'Mandilla' P. arrested three months after shooting in Paramaribo
The 37-year-old Giovanni P., alias 'Mandilla', has been arrested for a shooting in which a 19-year-old bystander was struck in the thigh. He remained out of police reach for three months.
Suspect in Jaqlinaweg shooting arrested three months after incident
The 37-year-old Giovanni P., known in the neighbourhood as 'Mandilla', has been arrested more than three months after a shooting on Jaqlinaweg and Andreasweg in Paramaribo. This was reported by Waterkant. The shooting took place on the night of Friday 24 to Saturday 25 July 2026 and struck an innocent 19-year-old bystander in his left thigh.
The victim, Ivanildo, had been visiting his cousin that night and was walking home when he heard someone screaming. When he turned around, a shot rang out and he immediately felt a burning sensation in his thigh. He sought shelter at the edge of a football field, after which bystanders bound his wound with a cloth to prevent serious blood loss. He was taken by ambulance to the Emergency Department of the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP).
A witness who had alerted the Latour police stated that a fight had taken place in the area of Andreasweg and Jaqlinaweg shortly before the incident. According to him, a man he knew as Mandilla appeared in a blue Toyota Yaris, pulled out a firearm and began shooting in various directions. The witness said he heard a total of five shots.
Police investigation subsequently revealed that the shooter had driven to Andreasweg. There he stopped in front of a house and fired a shot at 38-year-old Lorenzo, who was standing in his driveway. Lorenzo was not hit. He stated that in addition to the suspect, a woman was also in the car; after the shot, the vehicle drove away.
Two other witnesses confirmed they had recognised Mandilla in the blue Toyota Yaris. They stated that he had fired four times from the vehicle on Jaqlinaweg and then also shot at Lorenzo on Andreasweg. Upon forensic examination at the scene, police found no cartridge cases, and there were no security cameras in the immediate vicinity that had captured useful footage.
After extensive investigative work, Giovanni P. was finally arrested—precisely three months after he had evaded police. Following consultation with the Surinamese Public Prosecution Service, he has been remanded in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, attempted manslaughter and serious assault with premeditation.
Source: Waterkant