IT was chaos in the city on Friday afternoon when two journalists decided to chase a gunman who had just robbed a United States (US) based Guyanese man in the vicinity of the St. George’s Cathedral. The journalists who were involved in the high-speed chase have been identified as Kurt Campbell and Iva Wharton. They were shot at by the gunman, but fortunately escaped unhurt. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the two media operatives decided to pursue the yellow get-away taxi with licence plate number HC3085 after witnessing the robbery.
Campbell told this newspaper that he observed the armed man clad in a grey t – shirt, blue pants and orange cap had attacked a man, who later identified himself as Steve Smith. Smith is a Guyanese citizen, who is visiting from the United States.This newspaper understands that he had just left a city bank and was walking along Carmichael Street when the armed man pounced on him. Smith put up a fight, but was overpowered by the bandit, who managed to escape with $90,000.
According to Campbell, he and Wharton were driving in the vicinity at the time and decided to pursue the vehicle. Campbell recalled that they drove through several traffic lights in order to stay close behind the speeding car and immediately made contact with ‘A’ Division Commander, Clifton Hicken, who alerted police patrols.But things took a turn for the worse when the armed man, who was at this time wearing a mask, exited the car at Crown and Oronoque Streets and opened fire on the vehicle the journalists were driving. However, the journalists did not stop and continued to trail the men when a police patrol subsequently arrived and took over the chase.
Both Campbell and Wharton were commended for their bravery by Commander Hicken.
Meanwhile, another reporter, Leroy Smith, who is attached to the Newsroom, was pursuing a stabbing incident at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara Friday morning when he was reportedly beaten and robbed.
Smith, in a Facebook post, revealed that he was robbed of his cash, cellphone and camera.
