A businessman early yesterday morning shot and killed one of two gunmen who ambushed him and his son as they arrived at their Lamaha Gardens home in what appeared to be a robbery attempt.
As the now dead bandit was lying at the side of the road bleeding from gunshot wounds to his chest, his accomplice fled the scene, ignoring his cries for help. Police yesterday identified him as Shawn Edwards of East Ruimveldt.
According to a press release the businessman and his son had just returned to their home at Lamaha Gardens when they were attacked by two armed men who opened fire on them as they exited their vehicle.
The businessman who is a licensed firearm holder returned fire hitting one of the men, Shawn Edwards, 30 years, in his chest. Edwards was taken to the Georgetown Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The other man managed to escape.
A Lugar Tech 9 machine gun with 29 matching rounds was recovered by the police, the release added.
According to the police Edwards was on bail in a narcotics matter.
When Stabroek News arrived on the scene, the police were busy conducting their investigations while relatives of the family had gathered to lend their support.
The car that the businessman and his son were in came under fire from the gunmen and one of the bullets pierced the bottom of the front windscreen and there were bullet marks on the roof and side of the vehicle.
At least three shells were recovered from the scene. There were also a few spots of blood nearby.
Recounting what had transpired, Henry Rambarran Jr. told Stabroek News that he and his father who is the owner of a shipping business returned home from a wake at around 12:40 am.
He said that his father got out of the car and opened the gate while he drove the vehicle into the yard.
The gate was relocked and as he was retrieving something from the back seat he noticed two men jumping over the fence on the southern side of the house.
He said that he shouted to his father who then drew his licensed firearm as the men who were armed with machine guns opened fire.
According to him, his father who was standing at the side of the car returned fire hitting one of the men twice in the chest.
The men, he said, fired about 8-10 shots.
The younger Rambarran related that he jumped the front fence, opened the gate for his father and together they ran to the head of Garnett Street, a few metres away.
The injured gunman and his accomplice managed to scale the very fence they came over and ran to the back of the neighbouring yard before jumping over a side fence and running up Garnett Street.
However the injured gunman did not make it far, falling about 200 feet from where the Rambarrans were standing.
Rambarran Jr recalled that after the wounded man fell he called for help but his accomplice made no attempt to help him.
Police, he said, arrived promptly on the scene after they were informed about the incident and he said that up to when the wounded man was placed in the police vehicle he was still alive.
The two gunmen were hiding in the unlit yard of a derelict building next door to the Rambarran’s residence.
The son said that although the area is well lit, that particular lot is a problem because late at nights strange persons would frequent the house. He said that he is clueless as to what these characters do there but he pointed out that several reports have been made to the police regarding the situation and so far nothing has been done.
This newspaper understands that although the house is deserted, the yard is weeded at least every two months but persons in the area don’t know under whose instructions.
Since the building has been deserted, the Rambarrans have been the victims of petty crimes.
Meanwhile, the elder Rambarran who was still visibly shaken said that he feels fine and wasn’t injured during the ordeal.
“My gun is what saved me
