Director of Pest Control Plus Mohammed Baksh was last night shot by two gunmen, in an attack on Thomas Street, Georgetown and succumbed this morning, police said.
Baksh and three friends were at a restaurant on Thomas Street, between Quamina and Church streets, when he came under fire around 11:15 pm.
Baksh, who was shot three times—twice to the head and once in one of his arms—was rushed to the nearby Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted.
Stabroek News was told that two gunmen walked up to the table where Baksh and his friends were eating at and opened fire on him, leaving the others unharmed. However, one of Baksh’s friend injured her foot and was seen limping at the GPH while being interviewed by police.
After the gunmen fired what sounded like about five shots, they left the scene. One of Baksh’s friends, who witnessed the attack, was heard relating to investigators that after the gunmen entered the restaurant and opened fire on Baksh, she ran for cover. During the process, she noticed about two persons on motorcycles dodging in different directions.
After the wounded man was rushed to GPH, he was immediately whisked away for a CT scan, which revealed that the bullets were lodged close to his brain.
At the hospital, many of Baksh’s relatives converged and they were seen reciting tearful prayers for his wellbeing. Baksh’s wife refused to speak to the media, however, his brother Mohammed Bacchus told Stabroek News that it was not the first attempt on his brother’s life. He said that they received a call around 11:30 pm stating that he had been shot again and they immediately rushed to the hospital. He added that as far as the family knows, his brother had no enmity with anyone and they were shocked at the second attack on his life.
Bacchus noted that there is a matter presently in court stemming from the first attempt on Baksh’s life and the proceedings so far have been in his favour.
The first attempt of Baksh’s life was on August 7, 2008 when he was shot several times and robbed at his Lamaha Street, North Cummingsburg home by three gunmen. Two men Paul James, 41, of 33 Barrack Street, Kingston, and Dexter Lynch, 36, of Lot 63 West La Penitence Housing Scheme were charged with attempt murder as a result, while a third is yet to be found.
Baksh was attacked sometime around 8:50 pm when he went into his yard to park a car.
The businessman was hit in his right forearm, abdomen and back and a .32 warhead was recovered at the scene by the police.
During the court proceedings, the court was informed the accusation brought against James stemmed from a business deal that had gone sour, however, Baksh allegedly told the court that James owed him $31M and that they were business partners.
