Two shot in Grove robbery

Two men were beaten and shot by five gunmen last night during a robbery at Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

Hancel Alleyne and Horace Cupidore, who is in his 40s, were rushed to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital and then referred the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for further treatment.

Alleyne, this newspaper was reliably informed, sustained a gunshot wound to the neck and leg. The man was being given oxygen at 11.10pm and his condition, sources said, was critical. Cupidore, a friend, sustained a gunshot wound to his leg.

Reports are that the gunmen invaded Alleyne’s Grove Public Road home sometime around 9pm. While the men were inside the house demanding valuables from Alleyne, this newspaper was told, Cupidore who is a taxi driver from Kaneville and a friend of Alleyne showed up at the house.

Cupidore, according to reports, entered his friend’s yard and shortly after gunshots were heard.

The gunmen then rushed out of Alleyne’s premises, got into the car in which Cupidore arrived and escaped.

The car remained missing up to press time and it is unclear what was stolen from Alleyne.

Cupidore’s wife  told Stabroek News that she had been told that her husband and his friend were injured during a robbery.

However, she was not aware of the details of the incident. She said that it was Cupidore who stopped at the Grove Police Station and informed police of the matter before continuing the nearby hospital for treatment.

“As far as I know my husband was alright but I can’t tell you about Hancel,” the woman said.
Alleyne, according to her, lived alone at the Grove Public Road location. The woman added that her husband would normally visit the man.

“I don’t really know what exactly happen but I don’t think my husband know robber been in the house…cause like he surprise them when he go and that is how he ended up in the mix,” the woman said.
Her husband and Alleyne, the woman said, were rushed to the city hospital by an ambulance from the other medical institution.

She declined to comment further.

Investigators were present at GPHC last night and were heard interviewing persons who had accompanied the injured men to the hospital.