-robbery suspected
A taxi driver was shot three times yesterday during a bizarre mid-afternoon attack along Princess Street, Lodge.
Up to press time last evening, police were looking for the two men who shot Shawn Dummett, 37, of Lamaha Gardens. Dummett was taken to the operating theatre shortly after he was rushed to the Georgetown Hospital by Lodge residents. He sustained two gun shot wounds to his chest and abdomen and his condition is listed as serious.
Police last evening said initial investigations revealed that Dummett was driving his car, PLL 3474, with two other men in the vehicle when he suddenly ran out of the vehicle. He was pursued by the two men who discharged shots at him, after which they escaped.
Shawn Dummett has been admitted a patient at the GPHC, while the motor vehicle has been lodged with the police.
Police are still trying to ascertain the motive for the incident, which occurred around 2:25 pm between Victor Street and South Alley. Investigators were unable to speak to the wounded Dummett, who was said to be slipping in and out of consciousness when they visited him.
A senior police official said that it appears that Dummett knew his attackers and that the intent was to kill him.
At the hospital, relatives and friends were gathered awaiting word about the man’s condition. A sister said that she did not have any details about the incident and did not get a chance to see Dummett.
She said that he has been a taxi driver for the past ten years and has never been the victim of an armed robbery. No one could say what might have prompted the incident.
During the ordeal eyewitnesses overheard one of the men saying, “Ya s…t got to f…ing dead.”
From all accounts, Dummett, who operates from Camp Street, picked up the men at an unknown location and while driving along Princess Street, the vehicle stopped suddenly. Dummett was then seen running from it with the two men, one of whom was discharging rounds, in hot pursuit. The man collapsed in a nearby yard after being wounded.
A resident said he heard four gunshots and on looking out he saw two young men in pursuit of the taxi driver, who ran into a nearby yard.
The resident, who said he knew Dummett, noted that he was wearing gold jewellery, which he believed was the target. The men, he said, fled empty-handed shortly after a bleeding Dummett ran into the yard.
Another eyewitness said that he heard two shots and saw the men pursuing Dummett, “licking shots.” After he collapsed in a yard one of the men began kicking him, this newspaper was told.
Dummett had made an unsuccessful attempt to ward off the men with a knife that he had in his possession.
The eyewitness said that at first he thought it was plain clothes ranks because of the type of weapon that was used and their tidy attire but he soon realised what was happening when Dummett began hollering for thief. The men then fled through the nearby South Alley which connects to Norton Street.
A resident said that after he saw what had transpired he called the police on 911 and within five minutes van loads of armed ranks were on the scene.
The man praised the police for their quick response. A group of youths was also applauded for taking the injured man to the hospital. Dummett’s car is at the East La Penitence Police Station.
