TWO men yesterday morning pounced on a three-compartment store on Duncan Street, Georgetown where a Western Union outlet and Internet Café are also housed, and robbed the owner of that business before shooting him in the leg.

According to the Police, the incident occurred around 10:20 hrs when two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, entered the business place and held up the proprietor Gordon Nestor, 52 years, and staff member Fernandes Ally, 18 years, of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and took away over $400,000 before escaping in a waiting motor car.

The Police said Gordon Nestor was shot to his left foot during the incident and was admitted to a City hospital.

The Chronicle was also told by a business partner in a store nearby that the two men were seen entering the premises and, before they knew it, they realised that the men had shown up to carry out a robbery.

The men, who showed up in a green vehicle which was parked a short distance from the location where the robbery occurred, held up Nestor and demanded the cash from him.

Reports indicate that although the businessman had cooperated with the bandits’ request, and handed over the cash, the bandit carrying the weapon still decided to shoot the man during the robbery.

An 18-year-old staff member at the facility was also held by the bandits, even as they tried to rob a nearby store whose staffers managed to lock themselves in another section of the store, making it impossible for the bandits to get to them.

The bandits carted off approximately $400,000 while persons quickly telephoned the police and ambulance services, which responded promptly.
Unconfirmed reports have suggested that the police were able to recover some amount of video footage from the surveillance cameras which are mounted around the premises.

It is, however, unclear whether any suspects had been detained up to late yesterday. The bandits were not wearing masks at the time of the robbery, this publication was told. Police are continuing their investigation of the matter.

(Leroy Smith)