A 25-year-old policeman escaped death late Wednesday night, when one of two attackers opened fire on him seconds after ordering him out of his car which was parked on the Square of Revolution.
Troy Canterbury, a Timehri resident based at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), Eve Leary sustained a gunshot wound to the right knee. The bullet which was lodged was subsequently removed at the Georgetown Hospital before the rank was discharged.
Police in a press release said that about 11:05 pm Constable Canterbury was in a parked motor vehicle at Vlissengen Road, George-town, when he was confronted by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, and who held him up and demanded his valuables.
Canterbury resisted, the release said, and was shot in his right knee by the man with the firearm.
Further the release added that an armed police rank attached to Castellani House heard the gunshots and responded. He discharged several rounds in the direction of the fleeing gunmen but they managed to escape. It is not known if any of them was hit. From all appearances the men left empty handed.
Investigations are continuing.
This newspaper was told that the rank was sitting in his car when two men came up and ordered him to exit the vehicle. Canterbury, complied but as soon as he was out of the vehicle the men fired at least five times at him before fleeing the scene.
It is unclear what mode of transportation the men used but the area where the shooting occurred is well lit at night. However residents living nearby did not recall hearing any gunshot or seeing anything suspicious when Stabroek News visited the scene yesterday morning. They said that a crusade was being held on the Square and as such they retired to bed early. The crusade according to reports ended just before 11 pm.
About 15 minutes after the shooting the rank, who was conscious, arrived at the Georgetown Hospital where he was treated before being sent away.
