A businessman was shot in his leg during an attempted robbery yesterday in Charlestown, after refusing to give into the demands of a bandit who was forced to flee empty-handed to escape angry residents.
Vincent Ramkissoon, 48 of Belle West, Canal No. 2, West Bank Demerara, is now nursing a gunshot wound to his left leg.
The shooting took place at around 5:30am, when Ramkissoon was about to set up his stall in front of the Ketley Primary School, where he usually vends. He was approached by an armed bandit, who pointed a gun at him and demanded that he hand over all his cash.
Ramkissoon told Stabroek News that he had just emptied his pocket of whatever cash he had and placed it in his locked vehicle.
After Ramkissoon’s refusal to comply with the demands, the gunman, who had arrived on a pedal cycle, aimed towards his leg and fired a shot.
The key to the vehicle, which Ramkissoon had in his hand, fell to the ground and the bandit quickly picked it up and ordered him to open the locked vehicle. “He pick up the key and although he already shoot me, he still had the gun pointing at me and telling me to open the vehicle,” the man recounted. He said it was at that point that a resident, who was observing what was taking place, confronted the bandit and pelted a bottle at him.
He missed and hit the cabin of Ramkissoon’s vehicle instead.
The robber, however, remained unmoved and another bottle was thrown at him. This time, he responded by firing a shot in the direction of the resident. After other residents in the neighbourhood were alerted to what was taking place, the bandit rode off and made good his escape albeit empty-handed.
Calls were made to the police, who Ramkissoon said came about 45 minutes later. He was subsequently transported by the officers to the hospital, where he was treated and sent away.
The bullet entered just below the side of his left knee and exited at the back.
Ramkissoon, who supports his wife and six children, is hoping that the police investigation will lead to the apprehension of the bandit.
Meanwhile, Betty (only name given), who also sells in the area where the attack occurred, said that she believes that the bandit is well known in the area.
Residents suggested that the robbery might have been recorded by surveillance cameras from a nearby premises.
