In a press statement yesterday police said they are investigating the armed robbery which occurred at about 7.30 pm. The two robbers, police said, attacked a businessman, his wife and children at their East Ruimveldt Market stall. The two attackers were then confronted by two members of a private security firm; there was an exchange of gunfire between the men. The surviving robber escaped with $10,000.
The robber, who was fatally shot, has been identified by a relative as McLean. An unlicensed Taurus 9mm pistol with six matching rounds in the magazine was recovered from the hand of the dead bandit, McLean, and twenty-four live 9mm rounds were also found in his pants pocket, police said.
Kayode McDonald, one of the two guards who confronted the robbers, was shot in one of his elbows and has been admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, police reported. The guards’ vehicle, according to police, was damaged by the bullets and there were also bullet holes in one side of the vehicle.
When Stabroek News arrived at the East Ruimveldt Market yesterday the police were there conducting their investigations.
Kurt Nurse, the owner of the store which was robbed said that persons at the Market are operating “in a dangerous environment”. He said that while he is always vigilant there is always an unguarded moment in which something can happen.
Asked about security at the market, the businessman who has been operating his stall for a number of years said that constabulary ranks are posted at the market and as far as he knew they were on duty prior to the incident.
The man said that before he saw the gun he thought the bandit was one of the ranks.
Recounting the events of Thursday night, Nurse said that just before 7pm, he was about to close when a man came and asked if he sold cigarettes. He said he replied in the negative and the man headed off.
Shortly after that he noticed the same man standing in his shop with an accomplice. They gained entry through the open back door.
At the time, Nurse said his wife and three young children were also in the shop and the man brandished a gun at him and said “no one don’t move. Who is de boss?”
The businessman said that he calmly told the gunman that he was in charge and the gun was pointed directly at him and the bandit demanded that he hand over whatever money he had in his possession.
During this time the other bandit, who had his hands in his pants, went to Kurt’s wife who was sitting in front of the cash register.
He said that the bandit pulled a bag that was hanging nearby and told him “De money in hey (the cash register)”.
He said that the “small change” which was in the register was emptied into the bag and the men left.
Seconds later, Kurt recalled he heard gunshots and when he rushed outside he saw the gunman lying in a pool of blood.
He explained that the relative of another shop owner is a security guard at a private firm in the city and he would usually check on her.
Kurt said that the husband and a colleague visited the woman shortly before the robbery and confronted the armed bandits as they were attempting to flee.
Police in a press statement last evening reported that there was an exchange of gunfire and McLean was fatally wounded. His accomplice who was carrying the bag of money had fled in the opposite direction. He remained on the run up to press time last night.
Kurt told this newspaper that this is the second time, he had been robbed.
Police are continuing investigations into the matter.
McLean
McLean, police also said, resided at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara. However, when this newspaper visited the community late yesterday afternoon residents said the deceased had only moved into the area about three weeks prior to his death.
“Is a young good looking boy,” one resident who requested anonymity said, “and we hear that he was recently released from jail but we don’t know anything about him [McLean]…he was living with a woman in the area and is only the other day he stab up a man.”
Stabroek News also spoke to the man who says he was stabbed twice in the neck by McLean “a few weeks ago”. The man, who declined to be named, said he had an argument with McLean and the man “viciously” attacked him.
During January 2007 McLean, also called ‘Footprint’, was one of nine prisoners who escaped from the Mazaruni Prison. He’d been shot to the shoulder during a shoot-out with police, given medical attention and returned to his prison cell.
At the time McLean had been serving a sentence for manslaughter.
