A Port Mourant businessman was shot dead last evening during a robbery by three men who invaded his shop.
Dead is Rampersaud Shivcharan called Rakesh, 41, of Lot 9 Ankerville, Port Mourant, Corentyne. He was the co-proprietor of ‘Debbie’s Grocery and Liquor shop. Police sources told Stabroek News that from all indications, it appeared to be a robbery.
The attack occurred at around 7:30pm during a seven-hour power outage in sections of the Corentyne. Further details are sketchy.
Stabroek News was told by Shivcharan’s relatives that a neighbour related to them that he was attempting to purchase cigarettes when the three men walked into the shop and told him to be quiet. The gunmen then turned their attention to the shop owner and subsequently shot him in the region of his heart.
At the time of the incident, two of Shivcharan’s children were also present but disappeared during the incident. They were subsequently located. They had escaped to a neighbour.
The customer who was in the shop during the robbery, rushed to inform Shivcharan’s family who were located a short distance away, after the bandits left.
When the family arrived, police had already secured the scene and began their investigations in the power outage.
Shivcharan’s motionless body was found in a pool of blood in a passageway in the shop. As his mother spoke to investigators she wailed “look how meh pickney deh lying on the ground in blood.”
According to neighbours, they heard a loud noise but thought it was the sound of a zinc sheet. They explained that they never thought it was a gunshot since it was only once that they heard the sound.
Stabroek News understands that the bandits escaped through a dam adjacent to the shop. Persons present at the scene criticized the police for keeping Shivcharan’s body at the scene for over an hour and a half.
Stabroek News was unable to ascertain the items the gunmen escaped with.
Police investigations are ongoing.
Shivcharan is survived by his three children, wife, parents and siblings.
There has been an upsurge in murders and armed robberies in recent weeks and the new government has been pressed to come up with effective responses.
