A business trip ended tragically for a popular pastry vendor when he was shot dead during a robbery at Onderneeming Sandpit, Essequibo Coast on Sunday evening.
Dead is 39-year-old Shawn Albert aka Dexter and `Rastaman’ formerly of Wismar, Linden, and Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.
According to information reaching Stabroek News, the incident occurred around 6.45 pm at Onderneeming Sandpit, Region Two. Albert and a nineteen-year-old salesman, Decklon Lee of South Amelia’s Ward, Linden were selling pastries and other products in a minibus when they were attacked by two masked men.
They had just finished selling at Onderneeming Red Village. As soon as Albert entered mini-bus GWW 1783, the men accosted them and demanded cash. One of the men had a gun and the salesman put up a fight. The bandit then opened fire when Albert began to drive off. He was struck by a bullet, lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a nearby fence. The men then escaped with $70,000 from the salesman. Residents heard the commotion and immediately rushed to the scene.
“We heard the three gunshots, loud but wasn’t sure what was it but when we heard the screaming we rushed out but then we saw the bus slammed into the pole and the salesman was there,” an eyewitness said.
Another resident related that the men regularly visited the area to sell pastries. The residents said when they went to assist Albert there was a visible wound to his head. They immediately called the police who arrived later at the scene. Albert was then taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body was transported to the Suddie Mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
The salesman was not injured during the robbery. Three spent shells were discovered at the scene. No one is currently in police custody.
Residents living in the Onderneeming Sandpit area have made frequent calls for a police outpost to be established there. Over the past month, several crimes have been committed in the area. The area is located next to a dense forest in which many persons who commit crimes are said to take refuge. Residents have called on the authorities to increase police patrols in the area. Close to 6,000 persons live in the Onderneeming Sandpit area in several housing schemes.
