As city businessman Gregory Lewis exited his car outside his Anira Street home on Wednesday night, he was attacked by a gunman who fired a bullet at him before escaping.
The gunman and an accomplice were seen parked a short distance away from the Lot 48 Anira Street, Georgetown house minutes before Lewis, 55, arrived. The businessman, who owns the Water Chris hotel and restaurant, told this newspaper that he believes the men were trailing him.
Speaking with Stabroek News last evening via telephone, Lewis said that he does not keep regular hours so the men had to have been trailing him through the city after he left Water Chris shortly before 9pm on Wednesday. “I went to Church’s and then I went home and as I was getting out the vehicle, this man just came up to me with this gun,” Lewis recounted. “I don’t think he ever touched me at any time. There was no scuffling because I did not oppose him but he fired a shot which I think went between my legs.”
When Stabroek News visited the Anira Street location, an eyewitness told this newspaper that a silver grey car pulled up outside the Comenius School, two buildings from Lewis’ house on the opposite side of the street, shortly before the businessman arrived. The man said that he saw a man exit the car and told the driver: “Thanks for the drop.” The witness added, “The car was facing east so all the driver had to do was drive up the street and turn right on New Garden Street…and that is what he do. He drive around and come down Oronoque Street and wait for the other man until he finish robbing Mr. Lewis.”
The man, who requested anonymity, said that he had seen the same car parked on New Garden Street for a short time. After the perpetrator, wearing a grey long sleeve shirt, exited the car, he walked towards Lewis’ house, the witness said. Shortly after, the man said he heard a gunshot.
Another person who works in area told Stabroek News that they saw Lewis driving down Anira Street. The man, according to the worker, would normally come home after 9pm most days. “After I saw him I walked to the back to use the washroom and while I was in there I heard his voice (Lewis),” the person recounted, “He is a man who usually speaks loudly so I didn’t take it for anything but then I heard something that sound like a gunshot and I hurry back to the front and I saw a man running down the street (Anira) towards Oronoque Street side.”
Lewis further told this newspaper that after the man relieved him of his jewellery, he dashed towards Oronoque Street, where a car was waiting for him. The businessman said that he immediately made efforts to contact police.
“I called 911 and they answered promptly and would you believe that in a five minute time between 10 and 20 police showed up at my house…I was surprised at the prompt response I got from them and I must commend them on it,” he said.
The businessman also stressed that a greater effort needs to be made by law enforcement authorities to deal with the current spate gun crime, especially robberies. “They have to do something because this problem is getting bigger and bigger,” Lewis stressed.
In a press release issued yesterday, police reported that the incident occurred at about 9.15pm. Lewis, according to them, was robbed of his gold jewellery, cellular phone and $30,000 cash.
