Armed bandits on Monday evening shot an 18-year-old in her head after she attempted to alert her mother that their family business was being robbed.
Fieada Mohamed was shot in her forehead during the attack, which was carried out around 7.20 pm at Manzoor Mohamed General Store, located at Lot 111 Charity Public Road, Essequibo Coast, by three men posing as customers. The main suspect, who goes by the name ‘Marlon,’ is known to the family and has since been arrested.
Mohamed was rushed to the Charity Hospital for initial treatment and was transferred yesterday morning to a private hospital in the city, where she underwent emergency surgery. Her condition was listed as stable up to yesterday afternoon.
Stabroek News understands that Mohamed and her sisters assist their mother, 54-year-old Zareeda Mohamed, called ‘Sukie,’ to manage the family’s business, following the death of their father last year.
The business is situated in the lower flat of the family’s home.
Divisional Commander Crystal Robinson yesterday told Stabroek News that the main suspect was arrested yesterday morning at Dredge Creek, Upper Pomeroon River, Essequibo and efforts are being made to apprehend his accomplices.
The attack was recorded by surveillance cameras at the business.
The bandits managed to escape with the proceeds from the day’s sales.
This newspaper was told that the family was about to close the business for the day when ‘Marlon’ approached and requested to enter the store in order to purchase water. He then allegedly advanced towards Fieada’s sister, who was at the cashier counter, and held her at gunpoint while an accomplice held a female customer.
The bandits took the women into the house, where they bound and gagged them using duct tape and plastic straps before ransacking the house.
Fieada, who was in the house, heard noise and later saw the men. She then began to scream in an effort to raise an alarm and was struck by a shot.
An uncle of the injured woman, who wished not to be named, told Stabroek News last evening that based on what he understands, Zareeda was about to lock the gate to the premises when ‘Marlon’ arrived and asked to make a purchase.
The man said that Zareeda allowed ‘Marlon’ into the store since she knew him and he is a frequent customer. He was followed by his accomplices, who were also allowed entry. “The mother (Zareeda) was out at the gate locking when this person come up and say that he want something fah buy….well is people that they familiar with. Is people that frequent so they allowed him to go in and tell him that they about to lock up and he got to hurry up,” the man explained.
“And then when he walk in, a partner walk in with he. When the two ah them inside, a next one come and then he go in and reach up with them. He want something fah buy. So she tell them hurry because she locking up now but she actually allow them to go in because she know them,” he added.
While inside the store, the man said ‘Marlon’ held Fieada’s sister at gunpoint. “…And the other one walk in, well from the store you could access the house. So they walk straight into the house and gone and ransack,” the man added.
He said Zareeda remained at the gate unaware of what was happening. “She (Zareeda) even call he (‘Marlon’) and say ‘Wah yuh doing so long?’ But she see one ah them, so she thought they still buying, they still shopping,” he noted, while adding, “He (‘Marlon’) did tying she (Fieada sister) up. She was at the cashier. The other two was in the house ransacking the house.”
While all this was happening, he said, Fieada, who was in the house, became aware and screamed, which caused the bandits to discharge a round, which struck her.
“Fieada didn’t know what was going on in the house but she heard some commotion and some noise and she decided to run downstairs…she decide fah run and start scream and she was running to go out to she mother. Same time they decide fah run, too, right, and they just fire a shot, like a wild shot like and it catch her in her forehead,” the man explained.
He said residents in the area were unaware that the family was being robbed due to the loud music from a neighbouring bar.
They were alerted only after Zareeda raised an alarmed but by then the bandits had already escaped.
