A DRIVE-BY shooting that occurred on Friday at the “Bless Up” Wash Bay and Chill Spot Bar at School Street, Hope West, Enmore, East Coast Demerara has left three persons hospitalized and police hunting for the suspects who shot and wounded them.Those hospitalised are 32-year-old taxi driver Ron Robinson, called “The General”, of Bachelor’s Adventure, ECD; Tishana Persaud, 29, of Foulis, Enmore, ECD; and wash bay employee Toby Etwaroo, called Kevin, 24, of Lot 226 Hope West, Enmore.

Eyewitnesses told the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday that the taxi driver arrived with two women to have his car washed at the wash bay on Friday at about 19:30 hrs. They were liming when a heavily tinted silver grey car pulled up and an occupant of the said vehicle opened fire indiscriminately at the group, seemingly intent on hitting the taxi driver.

The wash bay employee Etwaroo, who was about to bring chairs for others to sit on, was shot in the abdomen.

Nanda, Etwaroo’s mother, told the Guyana Chronicle that she was at home when someone came to her house to say that her son was shot. Thinking it was a joke, she did not venture out to inquire, until neighbours came to her house to tell her that her son was on the road bleeding; then she believed the report.

Nanda Etwaroo said her injured son was attempting to make his way home, but collapsed a few houses away. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he underwent surgery. His mother said he is in a stable condition, but is unable to walk.

The bullet, which exited his body, was recovered at the spot where he collapsed — in front of a neighbour’s house. It was handed over to ranks at the Enmore Police Station on Saturday morning.

Nanda Etwaroo reported that her son had seen a car following him and thought he was being traced, thus in fear he had tried to make it home. She said the car was occupied by his friends, who were looking for him to take him to the hospital.

Nanda said her son, a father of one, used to work at the said wash bay for many years, but had left the job and had returned to same only about two weeks ago.

Robinson was shot twice in the hand, while Persaud was shot in the back and side. Robinson is in stable condition while Persaud is yet to undergo surgery.

Reports are that an employee of the wash bay, who was present when the shooting occurred, is in police custody pending investigations.