Police are investigating an armed robbery that ended in an exchange of gunfire on Friday evening at America and Longden Streets, Georgetown, leaving a bystander wounded and an alleged suspect hospitalised under police guard.
According to police, the incident occurred at about 7:34 p.m. and involved a 35-year-old money changer and businessman of Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the businessman was seated on his motorcycle on America Street, plying his trade, when two men rode up on a black XR motorcycle from an eastern direction.
Police said the pillion rider dismounted, approached the victim, pointed a handgun at him, and demanded money.
The armed suspect then allegedly took $200,000 in Guyana currency from the victim’s right-side pants pocket.
Investigators said that as the suspect was about to return to the waiting motorcycle, he discharged three rounds in the victim’s direction.
During the gunfire, a 41-year-old maintenance worker of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, who was nearby, was struck in his right leg.
Police said the money changer is a licensed firearm holder and that he responded by firing two rounds in the direction of the pillion rider.
The suspect was reportedly hit and fell to the ground, but later got up and escaped south along Longden Street, while the motorcycle rider fled west along America Street.
The injured bystander was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he remains a patient in stable condition.
Police later went to the same hospital, where they found a 24-year-old man of Tucville, Georgetown, receiving medical treatment under guard. His condition was also listed as stable.
Investigators recovered two .32 spent shells and three 9mm spent shells from the scene. The items have since been lodged for examination. Police said checks are ongoing for the second suspect.
