2 injured as bandits open fire at bar

Two men were shot and injured on Thursday evening when two masked bandits opened fire during an apparent robbery attempt outside Easy Corner Bar and Boutique at Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Injured are Gordon Gomes and another man known only as “Troy”. Both sustained gunshot injuries to their legs during the attack at the business, located at 47 Stanleytown.

However, the bandits reportedly escaped empty-handed.

Michelle Alexander, who was at the business at the time, recalled that Gomes, Troy and another man, “Orin”, were there shortly before the attack.

She explained that a taxi had been called and she had gone outside and was sitting on the bridge with the men when she noticed two men approaching on foot.

According to Alexander, the two men were masked and came towards the group before apparently targeting one of the men, who was wearing jewellery.

“When they come and they reach here, I see them tackle the one man with the jewels,” Alexander recalled.

She said a shot was fired, but initially she did not believe the weapon was real.

“When they fired the one shot, I think it was a plastic gun, but when the other one fired the other shot and started shooting, I run,” she related.

What followed was a brief confrontation, during which there was a struggle with the attackers.

Alexander said she also became caught up in the confrontation before running for safety.

“When he started firing shots, I get up and I run,” she recalled.

The two attackers subsequently fled the area on foot as persons began emerging and running towards the scene.

Gomes was shot in the instep, while Troy sustained a gunshot injury to his leg. Alexander also recalled that one of the men sustained a minor injury to his forehead during the confrontation.

According to the eyewitness, the attackers did not manage to take anything from their intended victims.

“They didn’t get nothing from none of them because the guy get all he things,” she said, explaining that there had been a struggle which apparently prevented the bandits from completing the robbery.

Both men were taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where they were admitted.

The owner of Easy Corner Bar and Boutique is currently overseas.

Police have since launched an investigation.