A 28-year-old man was shot dead during a robbery at Mars Gas Station &
Variety Store, Snackette/Beer Garden at Lot 45 Stanleytown, New
Amsterdam around 12:15 am on New Year’s day.
Seon Craig, 28, of Lot 57 Stanleytown, NA who sustained a single
gunshot wound to the chest was pronounced dead on arrival at the New
Amsterdam Hospital.
The bullet had also grazed the corner of his friend, Wade Mc Donald’s
right eye and he received a few stitches.
Reports are that the two unmasked bandits who carried guns, posed as
customers and proceeded to rob the owner of the gas station, Michael
Mars after ordering him to lie on the ground. They relieved him of
some $500,000.
Reports are that Mc Donald, 42, of Lot 41 Stanleytown Housing Scheme
was entering the shop to make a purchase when the bandits confronted
him.
Not realizing that a robbery was taking place, Craig who was “having a
drink” with Mc Donald reportedly heard the commotion and went in and
asked, “Wah happening hey, man?”
At that stage one of the men drew a firearm and discharged a round, hitting him.
Mc Donald, a former member of the police force stated that he used his
“military instincts and dodged the bullet” which grazed him. The wound
started to bleed. The same bullet then reportedly hit Craig who fell
to the ground bleeding.
The bandits then reportedly escaped with their loot in the direction
of the ‘backdam’ where they joined a waiting car. Police responded
promptly and assisted in taking the injured men to the hospital.
Reports are that a Toyota wagon, PMM 3717 was intercepted at Cove &
John and three persons have been taken into custody. Stabroek News
learnt that other persons were also arrested in NA.
Mars who had told reporters that “everything happened in a split
second” said the bandits appeared to be hasty when they entered.
The businessman had said too that nobody realized that there was a
robbery and that the shot was fired because firecrackers were blasting
all over.
Craig was described by a family friend, Denise Farley as a “very
pleasant and helpful person; he was like my son.”
She said the last time she saw him was on Christmas day when he went
to her home to purchase ice. He had promised to return to help paint a
section of her house.
The woman said she was dressed to go out when she got the news and “me
clothes suddenly got tight for me… When I saw him at the mortuary I
started to holler.” Craig and Mc Donald worked at a wash bay service
in NA.
