Armed bandits shoot Berbice man during home invasion

A 40-year-old man was shot and injured after he confronted armed bandits who invaded a Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice home on Friday night.
Injured is Jagdeo Phillips called “Zacaria”, a farmer of Lot 201 Victoria Street, Cumberland Village. Saturday was his 40th birthday.
According to the Police, Phillips was at the Lot 194 Victoria Street residence of a 68-year-old businesswoman, who operates a shop from her home.
At about 09:50h, Phillips was in a hammock in the yard while the businesswoman and her granddaughter were in the shop, when one of the four armed bandits entered and held the teenager at gunpoint. He demanded cash and jewellery.
While they were in the shop, a loud explosion suspected to be a gunshot was heard outside.
The injured man’s teenage son, Lakraj Sudish, recalled that he was bathing when he heard screams and rushed to investigate.
“When I rush in the kitchen there was two man. One of them point the gun towards me and one of them point the gun towards my sister,” Sudish said, noting that his sister is 14 years old.

“Them asked me what I would do. Meanwhile, two of them was outside with my father, they was fighting. I think the gun was plastic gun but when I hear the first shot – that was real gun. I had picked up a fork but after I hear the first shot, I drop down the fork. So, ah tell them look the money there, you all collect what you all want to.”
This publication understands that Phillips had confronted the other bandits outside during which he was shot. Despite being injured, he gave chase after the suspects but collapsed on the road where his relatives subsequently found him with a gunshot wound to his chest.
The injured man was then rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he is currently being treated. His condition is listed as serious but stable.
The teenager explained that the bandits escaped with both cash and jewellery.
“My father had some big gold chain and a big gold band he buy for $200,000 and I don’t know the price for the silver band that he buy but it is two ounces of silver and he had about $200,000 in his wallet because he was going to do something for his birthday and the shop, the money that we sell from 6 – 9:30, we dose normally keep it at the top. I don’t know is how much money,” the teenager said. He averaged the money removed from the shop to be between $25,000 to $30,000.
Police responded in less than five minutes. All four bandits are said to have been armed with guns and were masked.
“And plus, they had on hoodie; only they eyes you could see. There was one of them, I don’t know if it was a man or a woman but they had on a skirt when they come,” the teen added.
No arrests have been made. Investigations are continuing. (G4)