police in Berbice are investigating the shooting of a salesman on Sunday evening at his Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant, Corentyne, home.

The injured man has been identified as Safraz Bacchus, 31.

Reports are that at about 20:00h at least two men attempted to open a trap door leading to Bacchus’ home but were unsuccessful. After not being able to gain access, a shot was fired in his direction.

At the time, Bacchus was preparing his children’s clothes for school. Reports are that the man initially thought it was the pressing iron that had exploded but soon after noticed a hand holding a firearm through a space in

The house where the shooting took place

the trap door.

Two other shots were fired, one of which struck Bacchus on his leg.

This newspaper was told that Bacchus pushed his children to safety and shouted for help and the men made their escape by jumping a backyard fence.

Bacchus is currently a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

An eyewitness told this newspaper that the incident was an attack on the man’s life and not an attempted robbery.

It was explained that the man is a witness in a murder case gaining attention of the courts.

According to the informer Bacchus was threatened that he will not live to testify and as a result he stayed indoors all day Saturday but was shot on Sunday.

Despite the threats made to Bacchus he did not report it to the Police.

Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam said the police are investigating the shooting and confirmed that Bacchus is a witness for the state in a court matter.

However, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum when contacted told Guyana Times that Police are trying to ascertain the motive for the shooting but they are not ruling out a possible attempted robbery.

He noted that from what he was informed, the man was in his home when he heard some noise emanating from a section of the house. As he looked in the direction, he saw someone attempting to remove a sheet of plywood that was used to block the doorway.

Upon seeing this, he shouted for “thief” but in retaliation, the perpetrator discharged a round hitting him to his leg.