A lone gunman shot and robbed a city businessman at Stabroek Market last night minutes after approaching him.

Troy De Mattos, 37, of Manchester, Corentyne, Berbice was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital nursing a gunshot injury to his chest. De Mattos was in his drinks stall at Stabroek Square when the incident occurred a little after 8 pm.

Rhonda Sutton, De Mattos’s niece, told Stabroek News last night at the hospital that she was a few inches away from her uncle operating her drinks stall when the gunshot rang out.

“I hear this thing go off and look over and see me uncle holding he chest,” Sutton related.

She said she went over to De Mattos and saw that he had already started to lose a fair amount of blood. She pointed to her blouse which was spattered with his blood.

According to her, a police patrol was passing at the time and responded to the calls for help. The police helped DeMattos into the vehicle and transported him and his niece to the hospital.

Sutton said she had no idea what had transpired between her uncle and the gunman, but her uncle told her that the man stole his chain. She said some persons at the market square said they saw the man approach her uncle and they exchanged brief words.

Shortly after De Mattos was rushed to the hospital another set of policemen arrived at the hospital to investigate the shooting.

Sutton said based on what she knows her uncle did not have problems with anyone. She said that he worked hard to keep his business going at the market.

De Mattos was conscious when he arrived at the hospital and when this newspaper left, doctors were tending to him.