Venezuelan national shot during robbery at Eccles

– gunmen invade Berbice business, cart off with large sum of cash

Two-armed robberies committed within hours of each other on Saturday evening in Regional Divisions 4 ‘B’, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and 6 East Berbice-Corentyne (EBC) have left one man nursing a gunshot injury and another businessman counting significant losses. In the first incident, a 22-year-old Venezuelan national was shot and robbed on Saturday at about 19:40h along Flamboyant Street, Eccles Industrial Site, EBD. Reports indicate that the young man had just left a supermarket in the area and was walking east along the roadway when he was approached by two identifiable males on a motorcycle. The pillion rider reportedly dismounted and confronted him, leading to a scuffle.
During the confrontation, the pillion rider allegedly discharged a firearm, striking the victim to his left leg. The suspects then relieved him of one cellular phone and $30,000 in Guyana currency before escaping west along Flamboyant Street on the motorcycle. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) were summoned, and the injured labourer was transported to the Diamond Regional Hospital, where he remains a patient in stable condition. Investigators recovered one 9mm spent shell at the scene, which has been lodged. Several CCTV cameras were observed in the area and are expected to be reviewed as part of the ongoing probe. Meanwhile, in a separate incident at about 19:00h on Saturday, a 58-year-old businessman was robbed at his supermarket in Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice. According to reports, the businessman was preparing to close his establishment when three masked males entered the premises. One of the suspects was armed with what appeared to be a rifle, while the other two carried suspected handguns. The armed men reportedly ordered the businessman and his employees to lie on the floor before removing approximately $1.5 million from the cash register. The suspects then fled south along the access street towards the backdam. Police responded and conducted searches in the surrounding area; however, the perpetrators have not yet been apprehended. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.