A 28-year-old taxi driver was last night shot in Sophia by a passenger during a robbery attempt.  Shem Nicholas of 361 West Ruimveldt had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) with a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Stabroek News understands that Nicholas had just dropped off a passenger when he was shot.   According to reports, the passenger was about to exit the car, when he attempted to rob Nicholas of a gold chain he was wearing.  It is believed that the driver of the car attempted to retaliate during which he was shot.  The bandit apparently escaped with the chain, while Nicholas managed to drive the car a few metres before coming to a halt, after which he was transported to the hospital.

According to a friend of Nicholas the incident occurred a few minutes after 9 p.m.  The friend said that he was in the  area when he heard about four or five gun shots. He ran to see what had happened and saw that it was his friend who was shot.

This newspaper was told that Nicholas usually operates his taxi from the Stabroek Market area and it is most likely that the customer hired him from there.  Police are investigating the matter.