A Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara couple was late Sunday evening held at gunpoint and robbed of valuables and a quantity of cash, while hanging out at a popular park in the community; quick action by the police has led to the arrest of a suspect.
Stabroek News understands that the incident occurred around 23:00 hrs while Melvin John, 28, a labourer and his wife, Kenisha Punch, 25 a nurse, residents of Burma, Mahaicony were sitting under a benab at the Park Square Fun City, Mahaicony.
They were relieved of a two cell phones, a quantity of cash and other valuables by a lone bandit.
The police in a press release said that swift actions by ranks stationed on the East Coast Demerara resulted in the apprehension of a suspect, Sheldon Roberts, 30, of Calcutta, Mahaicony.
The stolen articles and an unlicensed 9mm Glock pistol along with nine matching rounds were later recovered by the police.
The police said ballistics tests are being conducted on the firearm used to commission the attack, to determine if it was used to carry out any other crime.
According to reports reaching this newspaper, John and Punch were hanging out under a benab when they were approached by the suspect who held them at gunpoint and demanded cash. He relieved them of their possessions and fled.
A report was lodged at the Mahaicony Police Station and the police, acting on intelligence gathered, went to the Recess Public Road, Mahaicony where they contacted the suspect.
The suspect, upon seeing the ranks reportedly threw an unlicensed firearm in a nearby trench; it was later retrieved. He is being processed for court.
