A taxi driver was last Sunday night shot before being beaten unconscious while he was visiting a female friend at Arapaima Street, East La Penitence.
Keon Smith, 27, of East La Penitence is nursing a fractured skull and a gunshot wound to the left forearm at a city hospital. This newspaper was unable to ascertain the motive behind the shooting as when approached, yesterday afternoon Smith would only say that he was “good”. Smith whose face was badly swollen declined to comment on the events of Sunday night. His arm, where he sustained the gunshot wound was heavily bandaged. He was surrounded by many relatives and friends.
Police said in a press release that they are investigating the shooting incident which occurred around 23:00 hours.
Investigations revealed that Smith was “visiting a female friend when they were confronted by the perpetrator in the yard”, the police said. The gunman, the release added, drew his weapon and discharged a round which hit Smith in his forearm. The victim then held onto the perpetrator and a scuffle ensued during which another round was discharged after which the armed man escaped.
Stabroek News was told by a senior police official that the gunman is yet to be arrested. The official said the gunman walked up to Smith and asked what he was doing there before discharging a round in his direction. It was unclear if Smith or his female companion was acquainted with the gunman.
Speaking to this newspaper from her home in the Housing Compound, Arapima Street, Molly Clarke said that her 22-year-old daughter and Smith were sitting on her steps when she heard “blam blam”.
The woman said on hearing the gunshot she started hollering for her child and when she opened the door she was in a crouched position on the step.
“And then she turn and tell me mammy look de boy and Keon fighting. When I look over and see de two of them scuffling and the boy had Keon on the ground kind of hitting him in the head with the gun,” the woman recounted.
According to Clarke, she immediately began shouting “murder, murder” and neighbours started coming out of their homes.
The gunman ran out of the yard after hearing her shouts, she added. When she checked Smith was lying on the ground unconscious. She said that they immediately got a taxi and rushed him to the hospital.
Clarke told Stabroek News that at the time of the incident the area was dark adding she could not say who the gunman was.
The woman said that her daughter and Smith have been friendly for about eight years and the young man would often visit her home.
Police investigations are continuing.
