Bandits shot after invading Seaforth St family gathering
-were cornered in schoolyard
Two bandits who invaded a family gathering at Seaforth Street, Campbellville and made off with jewellery and cell phones were shot by police last night after being cornered in a schoolyard.
Up to press time both men were unidentified and were at the GPHC undergoing treatment under police guard.
`A’ Division Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken said that a gun was recovered in the Campbellville Secondary School Compound where the police and a suspect had an exchange of gunfire. A number of cellular phones and other items were allegedly found in the possession of the bandit who was arrested.
One of the victims of the robbery recounted the events to Stabroek News last evening even as more than a dozen others waited on the corner of Drury Lane and Sheriff Street where the men were cornered in the nearby Campbellville Secondary School.
“We had some family by us because we had a get together and all of a sudden two guys came to the gate and asked for Kevin. Someone told them nobody name Kevin live here and next thing I see they draws the guns and say to the people liming at the gate, ‘Nobody move’, “one of the residents of the Lot 53 Seaforth Street home related to this newspaper.
“One stayed at the gate and the other one came in the yard and started searching everybody pocket and
purse. He collect everybody money and chains and wallet and because the place was open, went into the house and plug out the phones that were charging and gone with it. They fired two shots in the air and ran up the road in the direction of Drury Lane,” the man added.
He said that a group from the family social gave chase after the men, who ran south out of Seaforth Street then turned left into Drury Lane, crossed Sheriff Street and continued on Drury Lane. They were screaming as they ran to alert persons that they were all robbed. A mobile police patrol which was in the area stopped and was notified and the police vehicle sped off to catch the suspects.
The police were informed that the men had scaled the fence of the St Theresa’s Catholic Church which is located at Drury Lane and Stone Avenue, Campbelliville and were hiding in there.
As they kept watch around the church yard, the police radioed for backup which promptly arrived and cordoned off the four streets that border the church and school.
Sometime after 10pm, shots rang out and ranks entered the school yard collected the shot suspect and rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
About half an hour later the other suspect fired at police and was also shot. As he lay wounded in the schoolyard a police team went into the compound and collected him where he was also taken to the GPHC, another senior police informed.
Persons at the family function said that they lost significant amounts of cash and jewellery. Overseas based Guyanese Ishall Diaram said that his gold chain worth over $200,000 was taken away from him.
Others said that their monies and cellphones were snatched away from them also.
Police are continuing their investigations.