Police are searching for three men who were accomplices of Odel Chase, who was killed during a confrontation with the lawmen shortly after robbing an America Street money changer on Monday night.
Chase, 22, sustained four gunshot wounds during an exchange with the police at Sussex Street, Albouystown.
According to the police, ranks responded to a 911 report that shots were being fired in America Street by armed men using a car with a false licence plate number, PNN 124. The men had stolen the car earlier in the evening.
Prior to the shooting, around 9 pm on Monday, three men robbed money changer Harold Francis on America Street and according to the police, the men relieved Francis of a bag which contained over $1M. They later discharged shots into the air as they escaped.
Police said patrols were quickly informed of the robbery and the car was spotted at Sussex Street, Albouystown. “As police approached the vehicle, they came under fire from the men who had exited the vehicle and the ranks returned fire,” police said, adding that three of the men managed to escape, while Chase, of James Street, Albouystown and Middle Road, La Penitence sustained injuries and subsequently succumbed.
It was discovered yesterday that the vehicle used by the robbers was stolen. The owner of the car, which carries an original licence plate number of PMM 2122, was robbed of his car earlier Monday night by two men armed with firearms as he waited for the traffic light to change along Mandela Avenue.
Meanwhile, America Street money changers were yesterday still alarmed by the robbery. At the same time, they commended the police for their quick response time. One of them noted that he and his colleagues work during the day while some work at nights. ”Some does be out here during the day and people like the man that get rob would come out like after 6,” he said. Another man stated that he has been working in the area for close to five years and according to him, ”hardly things like this happen because people know we deh out hey hustling and like how they (bandits) come and rob we pardna is one a we who had to call the police.” He recalled several years ago when a South Ruimveldt resident who worked during the night on America Street was killed by two bandits. “The man get attack and because he didn’t hand over he stash in time… they jus decide fa shoot and kill he,” he said. He continued, ”that mash up some people feelings but we deh out here and we working like anybody else… this is we job.”
Chase’ relatives were mum when this newspaper visited his home yesterday. The man’s mother, who works in the interior, is expected in the city today. A relative noted that the family was not prepared to speak on the matter until his mother arrives home.
The young man had a number of matters before the courts, including a robbery committed on Samantha Hollingsworth at the Botanical Gardens in April of 2009. Chase and another man, Ade Doobay, were remanded to prison on a charge which stated that they unlawfully and maliciously wounded with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause her actual bodily harm. Hollingsworth was shot in the attack. Chase was out on bail for that matter.
