A 24-year-old man was shot dead on Tuesday night and his female friend in a critical condition at a city hospital, after a businessman opened fire on the car they were in at Perry Street, Tucville.

Dead is Colin Perreira called ‘Malcolm’ of 213 Barr Street, Kitty Georgetown. The dead man was the eldest of four children and worked as an excavator operator. Injured and hospitalised is Gail- Ann Chachon of Region 1. Reports indicate that Chachon was in Georgetown visiting relatives at the time of the incident.

The businessman has been identified as Robert Benn, who is a licensed firearm holder. This newspaper understands that Benn reportedly opened fire on the car – Toyota Allion PRR 4393 – while it was turning on the businessman’s bridge. Reports indicate that Perreira was teaching Chachon to drive at the time of the shooting.

But Benn reportedly told the police that he felt threatened when he saw the car turning on his bridge since he believed the vehicle had potential bandits, so he shot at it. Benn remains in police custody.

The father was shot multiple times about the body and six bulletholes were registered on the front windscreen of the car; the shooting occurred at about 20:30h.

Residents in the area described the businessman as a harsh and ill-tempered individual.

“This man is always have problems with people,” one resident said.