A man is now hospitalized and another is in police custody after an attempt by a gang of men to rob a gas station was foiled by the police last night on the East Bank.
There are conflicting reports about which gas station it was.
According to a police source, six men were in the process of attempting to rob a gas station around 10 pm when they were interrupted by a police patrol. Stabroek News was made to understand that after the men were confronted by the police, they opened fire. An exchange of gunfire between them and the police ensued.
Michael Gomes, 30, of Lot 26 Hogg Street, Albouystown, was shot to his hand and thigh and another man was captured by the police. The four others escaped. Gomes was subsequently taken to the hospital and the other person is in police custody.
According to Gomes’ brother, the man was last seen around 7:30PM yesterday at his Hogg Street home. He explained that they were at his home talking when Gomes, who is a fisherman, told him that he was going to meet some friends and would return later. He further said that a few hours later he heard from Gomes’ wife that he had been in some trouble on the road. The distraught man expressed his shock when he found out that Gomes had been shot twice and was allegedly involved in a robbery.
Police investigations are ongoing.
The police today issued the following press release on the incident:
At about 2015h. last night Sunday July 19, 2015, the police responded to information received from a member of the public that a number of men were seen jumping over a fence into the compound of SOL Guyana Inc. at Agricola, Georgetown.
At the scene the police ranks came under fire and returned fire hitting Michael Gobin, 30 years, of Hogg Street, Albouystown, to his hand and foot. He is under guard at the GPHC.
Another man was arrested and is also in police custody assisting with the investigations.
