Police ranks responding to a report of attempted robbery at a Mandela Avenue Service Station came under heavy gunfire from two men in a car. When the gunfire had ended one of the men lay injured while his accomplice managed flee the area.

The injured man has since been identified as Akeem Rose, 17, of North/East La Penitence. When this newspaper visited the Georgetown Hospital where he was admitted a patient, he was lying on a bed with a towel covering the middle part of his body.

In a press release on the incident, the police said that around 23:00 hrs ranks of a mobile patrol came under heavy gunfire from two men at the Texaco Service Station at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown. Police returned fire resulting in injuries to Rose and the recovery of an unlicensed .38 revolver with five rounds and a spent shell which he had in his possession.

Following observations made, the release added, the ranks had approached the two men in the car at the fuel station and they “both opened fire on the police”. The ranks returned fire hitting Rose while the accomplice remanded to escape.

According to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, police in responding to information went to the location and on arrival came under fire. He said that from all indications, it was an attempted robbery.

When Stabroek News visited the area, a resident said a loud explosion woke him out of his sleep and he immediately ducked for cover. The man said that he heard about three more gunshots and when he looked out he saw several policemen dressed in black heading in the direction of North/East La Penitence shooting. “They shooting and like them ain’t striking their target. Them ranks need to be trained properly man. They can’t be running and shooting suh,” the man said adding that shortly after he saw van loads of policemen.  He recounted that he heard at least 20 gunshots.

During the commotion, a car – PJJ 4042 – parked in a yard on Mandela Avenue was damaged; the glass on the driver’s side window was shattered by a bullet. According to Monica Prass, the wife of its owner, police took photographs before removing a spent shell that was found inside.

The woman said that she inquired from the ranks if the vehicle could be placed in the compound of the nearby East La Penitence Police Station for safe keeping but was told that she had to first seek permission from the Divisional Commander.

Prass said that she was not home at the time of the incident but her sister-in-law later recounted to her that she was sitting on the veranda when it started and she ducked for cover and concentrated on securing her brother who is bedridden.

Prass is left wondering who will take responsibility for replacing the shattered glass.