The police have arrested a suspect in the shooting of Shane Cooper, the dog food vendor who was robbed in an attack along Aubrey Barker Road last week Monday.
Commander of ‘A’ Division Marlon Chapman yesterday told Stabroek News that the suspect was held on Sunday. He remained in custody up to yesterday afternoon after an identification parade was held and police said he was “positively identified.”
The suspect has been described as a 20-year-old James Street, Albouystown welder.
Cooper, 26, of Bamboo Drive, Meadow Brook Squatting Area was shot twice—to his abdomen and left leg—in the attack.
He was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Sandra Cooper, the injured man’s mother, yesterday told this newspaper that he was discharged from the hospital last Wednesday and he is presently at home recovering.
Stabroek News was previously told that Cooper was shot after he reportedly attempt to flee from his attacker. He was said to have been approached by an armed bandit, who exited a waiting car, which is suspected to have been occupied by two accomplices. The gunman allegedly demanded that Cooper hand over all his valuables but he attempted to run.
After shooting him, the gunman relieved him of a quantity of cash, said to be his sales for the day, and a gold chain and ring he was wearing at the time.
Another dog food vendor, who also sells in the vicinity, and her daughter were also robbed of their cell phones and valuables, the police had said.
Sandra had related to this newspaper that based on what she was told, Shane was packing more dog food on a table when he was approached by the bandit. “…As fast as the food sell he does put back on the table. So he picking up and putting back and when he turn around he see this man (attacker) coming towards him with the gun,” she noted. “…And he stand up. He watching the man (attacker), the man watching he and the man raise the gun to he and tell he give he the things (valuables) them,” she had said.
At this point, Shane reportedly attempted to run and was shot, she added.
