Robbery accused shot dead by off-duty cop

A robbery accused was shot dead by an off-duty policeman early yesterday morning, moments after he had robbed a taxi driver of cash at gunpoint.

Dead is Junior Gardener of Buxton, East Coast Demerara who according to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud was charged several times with robbery. This newspaper understands that he was also wanted for a series of robberies.

Persaud told this newspaper that Gardener robbed the taxi driver of $5800 while he was at Ambassador Taxi Service located on Lamaha Street.

During the course of the robbery, the man raised an alarm, and the policeman who lives in the building where the base is located went to his assistance. The policeman reportedly instructed Gardener to drop the shotgun he had in his possession and when he refused, shot him several times about the body.

This newspaper understands that the man sustained a gunshot injury to the eye among others.

Persaud told this newspaper that $5800 and a double barrel shotgun were found in Gardener’s possession and there was a bicycle outside the base suspected to be his.