A taxi driver has been hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the jaw after he was attacked and robbed as he was about to make a drop-off at the entrance to Festival City on Monday night. The gunman and his accomplices are yet to be apprehended.

Carlton Jerrick, 47, of North East La Penitence is now a patient of the Georgetown Hospital and his condition is listed as stable.

When Stabroek News visited the institution yesterday he was surrounded by relatives and friends. His jaw was heavily bandaged and this newspaper was later told that the bullet is still lodged. Jerrick was told by medical personnel that his fractured jaw will have to heal before the bullet could be removed.

Police in a release stated that they are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at about 7.20 pm at the entrance to Festival City during which Jerrick was attacked and robbed by three men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

Investigations revealed that Jerrick was hired by a man from the Demico House area to go to North Ruimveldt. At the entrance to Festival City the man requested that the taxi stop, whereupon two other men, one armed with a handgun, confronted Jerrick. He was shot to the right side of his face by the armed man and robbed of his jewellery and a cell phone after which the three men escaped, the release added.