A prominent Linden businessman was robbed and shot in his store yesterday afternoon by a lone gunman.
Albert Joseph called “Bolo” of 68 Sunflower Street, Wismar, Linden was treated for a gunshot wound to the abdomen at the Linden Hospital Complex and subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Approximately 50 minutes after Bolo’s General Store at 68 Sun Flower Street was opened for the usual afternoon business, Joseph was shot and robbed of $10,000, a gold chain and an Alcatel cell phone.
Joseph’s daughter, who was the cashier on duty said the bandit entered the store brandishing “a gun like dem police own, revolver or what they does call it.” At the time the woman was in the cashier’s cage and Joseph was sitting in his usual position in front of the cashier’s cage. “I see the man come in the store and go straight up to Bolo and said gimme deh money,” Lauren Joseph said. “Bolo tell he he ain’t gat no money and he seh gimme wah yuh gat.” The businessman took off a gold chain he was wearing and handed to the bandit.
The bandit insisted that he wanted more and as Joseph went into his pocket he was shot in the left side of his abdomen. The bandit then took the cell phone and cash which was in the businessman’s pocket and fled.
“All I hear is me father saying is ‘ah ah’ and dat is when I realized de bullet hit he,” Lauren said.
Holding his side the businessman got up and walked to his bus which was parked outside and was taken to the LHC.
Lauren said she ran outside and “ask everybody who I see on de road if dey see he [the bandit] but nobody saw.” At the time no customers were in the store and other employees were at the back of the building.
Lauren said the bandit was unmasked and appeared to be in his late 20s and about 5’ 8”. She said the security cameras were on in the store and police are in the process of retrieving the tape.
The news quickly swept through the town of Linden resulting in a sea of businessmen flooding the LHC facility all uttering consoling words to Joseph’s family and praying for his recovery. At one point, his business counterparts where heard saying “Bolo seh something.
Leh we know yuh alright buddy.” And Joseph opened his eyes and said he was going to be okay. None of the businessmen left the LHC until Joseph was whisked off the GPH.
