Woman, man shot at Providence during attempted robbery

A cashier and supervisor from an East Bank Demerara night spot are nursing gunshot injuries following an attempted robbery during the wee hours of yesterday.

Stabroek News learnt that the shooting occurred as Kathy Vyphuis, the cashier at Cheers Bar, arrived home in Plantation Providence sometime after 2 am.

As Vyphuis was exiting the car, driven by her supervisor Tommylee Stephenson, 52, of Eccles, East Bank Demerara, a man wearing a mask rode up to the car on a bicycle and held them at gunpoint.

According to a police statement, the driver was shot while he was still seated in his car. The statement went on to explain that the woman was then followed and relieved of a bag containing valuables by the said bandit, who also discharged a round which struck her on the left hand, before making good his escape.

Stephenson is currently hospitalised Georgetown Public Hospital.

Vyphuis, who is the daughter of retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, George Vyphuis, yesterday told this newspaper at her Providence home that she is terrified and remains fearful for her life.

The distraught woman explained that when they arrived in front of her house, the bandit pulled up on the driver’s side of the car and pointed a gun at Stephenson.

She relayed, “He, [the gunman] was like, don’t move and the driver tried to drive away and he fired a shot same time. I ran and fell in the gutter over the road and he was like don’t move! Drop yuh bag! Drop yuh bag! After I drop the bag he came over and picked up the bag, at the