A man and his dog are recuperating after being shot by two bandits during a robbery at a Stanleytown, New Amsterdam grocery on Monday morning.
Farouk Azeez, 28, of Lot 55 Stanleytown is a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospi-tal, where he has already undergone one operation to remove the bullet from his left thigh. The bullet has not been found.
The dog, which belongs to Azeez and his parents, Haniff and Zabeeda Azeez, was treated for the gunshot wound and is recuperating, Zabeeda Azeez said. A police press release issued on Monday night had said that the dog was shot dead, but the woman said yesterday that it was “eating a little bit now”.
According to reports, the men, who posed as customers, entered the shop and requested kerosene oil. Farouk went outside with one of them to sell the kerosene oil and when he was finished the ‘customer’ grabbed him from behind and tried to push him into the shop.
His 59-year-old mother said she was in the kitchen when she heard sounds of scrambling and called out to her son. After there was no response she decided to check and saw him struggling with the men. The woman said she did not realize they were bandits and shouted: “Wha y’all doing?” At which time, they turned their attention to her and scrambled a gold bracelet she was wearing off her hand. The woman said she screamed for help and her maid ran out and alerted the neighbours. “Dem pushed me down and tell me not to make noise,” Zabeeda related.
While the bandits had turned their attention to his mother, Farouk took the opportunity to flee, but one of them ordered the other one with the gun to “shoot him.” The bandit pursued him and fired a shot at him on the roadside, which hit him in the left thigh and he fell. He remained there until his brother, who operates a taxi, happened to pass by and rushed him to the hospital.
Meanwhile the bandit who remained in the shop ransacked a drawer and removed the cash the family had made so far for the day. The gunman returned, placed the gun to Zabeeda and demanded more money. He threatened to shoot her if she did not comply.
The woman said she put her hand over the man’s hand with the gun and begged him to spare her. She told him “Ow buddy me nah gat more money. Me husband left to go and buy gas with the money.”
The bandit showed some mercy and removed the gun but he grabbed a few packets of cigarettes.
He and his accomplice then attempted to take flight on the road but turned back after they saw a large crowd waiting there. They jumped over the counter in the shop, pushed Zabeeda down for the fourth time and escaped through the backyard. It was at this stage that the dog was shot.
