… several others shot and hospitalised
A 64-year-old East Coast Demerara businessman was yesterday shot and killed during an armed robbery at his Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara premises. And one of the robbers, still unidentified, was shot and killed by the police as he fled the scene.
The businessman is Dennis Ramah, owner of the L&D Shopping Centre on Second Street, Chateau Margot. Reports say Ramah armed himself with a cutlass and chopped one of the five robbers as they invaded his premises and descended on his family and employees.
A police report said about 9:30 hrs, a group of five men, two of whom were armed with a firearm and a knife, entered the business premises of the L&D Supermarket where they held up the employees and placed them to lie on the ground.
Ramah, the owner of the business, reportedly raised an alarm while managing to arm himself with a cutlass and attacked the bandits, chopping one of them. Ramah was shot twice in the chest and the bandits subsequently ran out of the building.
The bandit who was shot and killed is of African descent and, up to press time last night, remained unidentified.
Another suspect, who gave his name as Victor Bobb, 26, of “B” Field, Pattensen, East Coast Demerara, was found with several gunshot wounds in the area, and is currently in a serious condition, receiving medical treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital, Police reported.
A third bandit was arrested by public-spirited persons in a yard in Chateau Margot and was handed over to the police.
Injured and receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital is Community Policing Group (CPG) Rural Constable, Daveanand Shyamraj, 51, of Railway Embankment, Chateau Margot, who chased after the bandits in his vehicle.
The CPG constable was reportedly shot by the bandits during an exchange of gunfire.
A passer-by, 76-year-old Daniel Miller, was also shot during the robbery and is receiving medical attention.
The bodies of Dennis Ramah and the unidentified bandit, who were pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), are at the GPH mortuary.
Several spent shells were recovered at the scene by the police, as the investigations continue.
When the Chronicle visited the scene yesterday, scores of residents had gathered outside the home of the slain businessman.
This newspaper understands that the gang of bandits casually entered the business premises at around 09:30 hrs. One of the criminals pretended to be a customer, and attempted to make a purchase of ‘a pack of snacks’.
The maid, Camille Sellikie, said she and two male employees were in the supermarket at the time and the bandits began kicking them about the body then dragged her upstairs to the businessman’s living quarters, demanding she guide them to where the money and valuables are kept.
The tramautised woman said she was kicked and cuffed repeatedly in the face and head by the robbers, who began ransacking the premises where the businessman and his two sons, his wife and a daughter-in-law lived.
Sellikie noted that after she was ordered to lie face down, she could not relate what else happened, but heard loud screams of “thief”, “thief”.
Before Dennis Ramah was shot and killed, he surprised one of the bandits on the back steps and managed to chop and wound him. It was then he was shot twice in the chest.
It was reported that the gunmen terrorized the family by inflicting blows to their bodies, demanding money, but fled empty-handed when neighbours summoned the police who chased after the gang.
Meanwhile, residents said the escaping bandits started shooting indiscriminately, as they fled the scene.
A resident, Nerima Azeez, said she was in bed when she heard gunshots and got up to enquire and saw the CPG member, Daveanand Shyamraj, holding his gun during an exchange with the bandits who were on foot.
The woman added that she also saw when passer-by Daniel Miller, who was riding a bicycle, was shot in the cross fire.
The police pursued the bandits into the backlands where they shot one dead, injured another and arrested the others during a fierce exchange of gunfire.
Shortly after the news of Dennis Ramah’s demise spread, scores of residents converged on the scene.
The business was robbed about four months ago by two gunmen who carted off $200,000 in cash and a quantity of phone cards.
The business has been in operation for the past four years.