– as gunmen fire at him

Popular businessman Maxwell Thom escaped injury or possibly death when he came under gunfire from armed men early yesterday morning at his home.  Thom is the proprietor of Wireless Connections.

According to the police, at about 12:05 am Thom was about to exit his motor vehicle at the entrance of his Cadet Lane, South Ruimveldt Park home, when he was confronted by three armed men.

The men, who were armed with handguns and had driven up in a motor car, discharged rounds at him. He was not hit by any of the rounds. Thom, a licensed firearm holder, returned fire at the men, who managed to escape in their vehicle, the police said.

Police are continuing their investigations into the matter and have since recovered a .32 spent shell at the scene.

When Stabroek News contacted Thom yesterday he declined to speak about the incident since he said he was under great emotional strain. However, he told this newspaper that he did not have any problems with anyone.

The Lot 130 Regent Street branch of Thom’s Wireless Connections store was destroyed in the second of two recent Regent Street infernos.

Household Plus, the Chino Variety, Slim Jet, and Fullworths General Store were the other businesses destroyed in this blaze.  Thom, however, has since set about rehabilitating his business. On Friday, the Guyana Fire Service said the fire was an act of arson and stated that it “was caused by incendiary devices thrown into the Household Plus Store by persons who gained access to the building from the alleyway running from Cummings Street to Orange Walk between Charlotte and Regent Streets.”