While police enjoy a new laid back lifestyle a la "The Birth of a Nation", residents have to fend for themselves against marauding bandits.
Enterprise businessman, bandits trade bullets
November 6, 2015 By
It was a war zone in Enterprise, East Coast Demerara on Wednesday evening after three armed men and a shopkeeper traded bullets as they attempted to rob his businessplace. The incident occurred at about 20:00h.
According to information, Rosita Balram was in the shop attending customers when the men entered and presented a list of items they wanted to purchase.
Reports state that as the woman gathered the items on the list, her husband who is a licensed firearm holder realised something was amiss.
This newspaper understands that after observing the manner in which the men were behaving, the businessman concealed himself so that the men could not observe him.
The newspaper was told the businessman’s wife tallied the cost of the items and informed the men. At that point one of the men pretended that he was taking out the money from his pocket but rather pulled out a handgun and discharged a round in the direction of the woman. Reports are that upon seeing the gun the woman and her son ran for cover.
The businessman upon hearing the first shot retaliated and discharged several rounds in the direction of the men who retreated and escaped in the nearby cane fields.
The police have since retrieved several .9mm spent shells from the scene.
When contacted Thursday, Roso, commonly called, of Ferdinand Street, Enterprise, stated that while putting together the items for the men, she noticed one of them walking in and out of the shop. From all indications she stated, he was monitoring the area.
“When I done get up the things, I tell them it was $3400,”she told this newspaper, adding that the bandit appeared as if he was taking the money out of his pocket. She said in the meantime she was tending to other customers and after they left the shop, the bandit came up to the counter as if he was ready to pay.
As she was about to collect the money, it was then one of the men pulled out a gun and pointed it in her direction.
“The bullet passed by me face and I duck and hide and I tell me son to stay down,” the woman added.
By that time her husband returned fire and the three men, two of whom were armed with handguns, ran out the premises and into the nearby cane fields.
The police were called and an investigation has been launched.