…calls to 911 went unanswered
Several calls to 911, moments after 28-year-old guesthouse owner, Tashmudaye Lall was fatally shot by bandits on Wednesday night went unanswered, a relative and his employees said yesterday.
Fifteen minutes after being shot at his Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo home, the businessman was taken to the Leonora Diagnostic Centre by police, with who contact was eventually made. He was pronounced dead on arrival. A relative yesterday criticized the 911 system, which has been similarly criticized numerous times in the past.
Police said in a statement yesterday that they are investigating the incident, which occurred around 8.45 pm on Wednesday. Investigations revealed that Lall operated a guest house and was at home with his reputed wife Annette Henaro and an employee John De La Cruz when two men approached on the pretext of renting a room. As Lall opened the door the men who were armed with handguns barged in and held up the three occupants, the police said.
“They demanded cash and $45,000 was handed over. Apparently not satisfied, the perpetrators demanded more cash during which John De La Cruz was struck to his head with a firearm. A scuffle ensued between Lall and the men during which he was shot to his shoulder and the men escaped,” the statement said.
Lall and De La Cruz were taken to the Leonora Hospital where Lall was pronounced dead on arrival and De La Cruz was treated and sent away.
Lall’s brother, Krishna yesterday said that he received a call relating that his brother was shot and he called 911 several times but each time the phone rang out. He then contacted a relative before again attempting to contact the police and this time he got a response and relayed the information. He said that the local security system “sucks”.
Henaro, also called Nattie Harry related that she, Lall and De La Cruz were eating dinner when they saw lights coming up the road and Lall thinking that customers were coming, asked her to clear the table. She said she went back to the kitchen while asking De La Cruz to help her to carry the wares. She was preparing to return to the front and as she turned, observed Lall and De La Cruz being held at gunpoint by the bandits. One was wearing a handkerchief over the lower part of his face. They were both armed with handguns.
Henaro recalled that she was “chucked” back into the kitchen and observed as the bandits asked Lall to open the drawer where they kept the money. When he did this and handed over the money, the bandits declared that it was not all and demanded more. One pointed the gun at her and she too said that it was all the money. Lall continued to reiterate that all the money had been handed over and said that Henaro was telling the truth and pleaded for them to take the money and go. She said the bandit pointed the gun back at Lall and he fell to his knees and pleaded with them not to shoot him “and they didn’t hesitate to shoot he”. He was shot in the shoulder, Henaro stated. Lall fell and as she rushed to his side, the bandit holding De La Cruz at gunpoint told his accomplice to shoot her also. However the bandit said no. After checking the rest of the drawers, they left.
She said Lall, who was bleeding heavily, told her to call his brother. She did and called 911 thrice but did not get through. Some guests, who had rented a room, she said, ran away, when called to assist. The police arrived 15 minutes later. Apart from the money, the bandits also took a cellular phone and a DVD player, Henaro stated.
De La Cruz said that the bandit holding him hostage also hit him. After he heard a gunshot, he prayed, he said. After the men left, he ran to the gate but did not see in which direction the bandits had fled. He returned inside but found that his phone was missing and used Lall’s cell phone to call 911 but received no response. At this point, Lall was still alive, De La Cruz, who is a handyman at the guest-house, recalled. He helped to move the businessman to the vehicle and he said Lall told him to take his advice and “all that he tell me is good and I must take care of myself”. That was the last time he spoke to his employer, who was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora medical centre.
About two months back, the guesthouse had been robbed by two men, who were armed with handguns. A police source said they did not know who had committed that robbery. Up to last evening, no one was arrested in connection with the incident. Investigations are continuing.