A businessman was shot early yesterday morning as he stood outside his Fourth Street, La Penitence home chatting with friends.
Ravi Ramlall, 38, owner of Middle Pocket Arena, a shop which is located beneath his home, is nursing a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and will have to undergo surgery to remove the bullet.
Police said in a statement last evening that around 03:00 hours the businessman was standing on the roadway outside his residence chatting with friends when a man approached, discharged “a round” which struck him to the left shoulder, and escaped.
The statement added that he is receiving medical treatment at a private hospital.
From all indications the gunman was watching the businessman as he had returned home shortly before he was attacked.
Police and relatives last evening said that they were clueless as to the motive behind the shooting.
When Stabroek News visited the home yesterday, several relatives and residents had gathered there. No one there had seen anything and they were only alerted to the incident when they heard the gunshots. They said that they did not see the shooter.
His mother Bibi Ramlall informed this newspaper that in 2002 and 2003 he was a robbery victim at his business place but she could not say if this was the case in yesterday’s incident. She said too that as far as she knew nothing was taken from him.
On July 13, 2002, a man was wounded after two armed bandits stormed Ramlall’s business escaping with thousands of dollars in cash and jewellery.
Ramlall had then recounted to this newspaper that one of the men pointed his weapon at him while demanding cash. Though he pointed to about $70, 000 that was hidden underneath the counter the bandits were not satisfied. The men emptied Ramlall’s pockets of a further $35, 000 and collected his wedding ring, a diamond ring, a gold band and a gold chain.
During the robbery, a shot was discharged when the bandits realized that the businessman was looking at their faces. The men attempted to enter Ramlall’s home located on the upper flat but abandoned their efforts after they were confronted by dogs. They later fled with the businessman’s scooter keys and helmet along with the cash and jewellery
Commenting on yesterday’s incident, Bibi said she did not know anything since she was asleep at the time. She however recalled that several gunshots woke her up. She was adamant that she heard more than one shot. Bibi told Stabroek News that by the time she got outside, Ramlall had already been taken to the hospital. She stated that the incident occurred in a seating area just outside the yard and she said she did not know if her son was sitting or was alone when he was shot. She said too that she had not spoken to her son since she had been unable to visit him in hospital. Bibi said she was told that the doctors at the hospital said that he had to have surgery done, but he was conscious and speaking with visitors.
She said that she was very concerned that he had not been taken to the operating theatre right away.
The woman said that her son has been operating his shop for 12 years now. She added that her son had no feud with anyone that could have led to the attack and she was baffled as to the reason behind it.
She said he was a kind-hearted person who would give to those in need.
Stabroek News was later told that a lone policeman arrived in the area around 10 am, after a resident visited the police station and made a report.
According to Bibi the policeman left for the hospital to take a statement from Ramlall. She could not say if that was achieved.
Several hours later she added, the same policeman returned and after speaking with her, conducted a search but apparently no spent shells were found.
