Gun-toting bandits this morning raided a welding shop and the L and B shopping centre at 18, Second Street, Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara and killed the owner, Dennis Ramah.
One of the attackers also died following an exchange of gunfire with the police.
Six bandits at 9 am went into the business place, confronted the workers and then took them upstairs where the Ramahs live and demanded cash and jewellery. They got nothing and as they were escaping Ramah confronted them and chopped one of the bandits. He was then shot by one of the bandits.
According to reports reaching Stabroek News the robberies took place at around 9 am when the bandits barged into the welding shop. They then moved to the supermarket which is located a short distance away.
Members of the Community Policing Group (CPG) gave chase and there was an exchange of gunfire and at least one CPG member was shot. The CPG member was identified as Davenand Shemraj. Shemraj was hit after opening fire on the attackers. Three of the bandits were held including the now dead one who has not yet been identified. The rest of the bandits fled in a yellow car without licence plates.
A bystander was also shot. His name has been given as Daniel Muller, 75.
Ramah was shot twice and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention.
Commander of Police C Division Gavin Primo, speaking with SN at the scene, said that two of the three men who tried to escape on foot were shot by police.
Police issued the following press release on the attack this afternoon:
“At about 0930h. today a group of five men, two of whom were armed with a firearm and a knife, entered the business premises of the L & D Supermarket at Second Street, Chateau Margot, ECD, where they held up the employees and placed them to lie on the ground.
The owner of the business, Dennis Ramah, 64 years, raised an alarm while managing to arm himself with a cutlass and attacked the bandits chopping one of them. During this process Ramah was shot twice to his chest and the bandits subsequently ran out of the house.
Members of the public responded and gunshots were heard. During this gunfire Devanand Ramraj was shot and injured to his right thigh and left arm and Daniel Muller was shot and injured to his right shoulder.
The body of an unidentified man of African descent who is suspected to be one of the bandits was found lying on the roadway with gunshot injuries and another suspect who gave his name as Victor Bobb, 26 years of “B” Field, Pattensen, ECD, was found with severe wounds in the area and is currently in a serious condition receiving medical treatment at the GPHC.
A third suspect was arrested by public-spirited persons in a yard and was handed over to the police.
The bodies of Dennis Ramah and the unidentified suspected bandit, who were pronounced DOA at the GPHC, are at the GPHC mortuary while Devanand Ramraj and Daniel Muller are receiving medical attention at the GPHC.
Several spent shells were recovered at the scene by the police as the investigations continue.”
