Two armed bandits were arrested but a third managed to flee as Police continue their investigation into an armed robbery that occurred at about 20:20 hrs last night at the Ocean View Hotel at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara.
Enquiries by the Police reveal that the victim (a 56-year-old businessman) and his family reside in a house attached to the eastern side of his hotel and bar building (Ocean View), where he also operates his business.
The victim was conducting business at his hotel bar when he was pounced on by three unmasked suspects, all armed with handguns.
The police say that the suspects walked the victim from the bar towards his house while holding him at gunpoint and started demanding money and jewellery. They then began ransacking the house, but the businessman refused to comply. One of the bandits then shot the businessman in the right side of the abdomen, causing serious injuries.
After that, they successfully escaped on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and jewellery.
The businessman was rushed to a private city hospital, where he was admitted as a patient. His condition is stable.
After receiving a report about the armed robbery, Police, acting on information received, went to Industry, East Coast Demerara, at about 9 last night, where they apprehended and arrested two of the suspects.
The two suspects apprehended are:
** Winston Harris, a 35-year-old from Lot 351 BB Eccles, EBD
** Dexter Simon, a 38-year-old from Lot 54 Russel Street, Charlestown, Georgetown
Police searched the suspects and found (on Simon) a black haversack containing a .32 revolver with no serial number, and with five matching live rounds, along with two Samsung cellphones and a toy gun.
The third suspect’s name (Kevin) was acquired from the two suspects who were caught. Police pursued him in the vicinity of Ogle Old Road, East Coast Demerara. During the chase, he dropped a .38 black revolver bearing serial number H256989 and escaped. Two live rounds and two spent shells were also found.
None of the stolen loot (cash and jewellery) was found. Investigations are continuing.
(From left are Dexter Simon and Winston Harris)
