The America Street money-changer who was shot and robbed on Tuesday morning at the Georgetown Stelling was also a victim of a robbery several years ago during which he “accidently” shot and killed a market vendor.
This newspaper was reliably informed that Deonarine, a licenced firearm holder was the person who shot Veronica Atherley on August 29, 2009 during a robbery in which he was the victim.
Atherley, 59, of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara was taken to the Georgetown Hospital after being shot in the hip. At the tim,e the woman had been plying her trade in the busy Stabroek Market area.
This newspaper had reported that on the said day, around 5.30 pm, two men had attempted to rob Deonarine and were fleeing when he opened fire on them, hitting Atherley.
Atherley was initially admitted as a patient in the hospital’s female surgical ward but was subsequently moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after her condition worsened. She succumbed on September 4, 2009 as a result of septic shock caused by the gunshot injury.
The shooter was never held criminally responsible as following an inquest the jury concluded that Atherley’s death was nothing more than an accident.
Deonarine, called “Buddy,” of Plantain Walk, Klien Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was shot once to his abdomen around 10.30am on Tuesday just after he had exited a speedboat which operates from Vreed-en-Hoop to the Georgetown Ferry Stelling.
This newspaper understands that at the time of the incident, Deonarine was on his way to America Street, where he operates as a money changer, when he was approached by the lone gunman, who shot and relieved him of an undisclosed amount of cash before escaping.
He was taken to the Woodlands Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. Up to yesterday afternoon, he was still a patient in the hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
