A bandit is now nursing a gunshot wound to his thigh following a shootout with police at the Rio Hotel and Night Club yesterday.
The injured suspect was identified, as Emanuel Hawker, an unemployed 23-year-old from West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown.
According to a police report, the incident occurred just about midday yesterday at the Rio Hotel and Night Club at Forshaw and Oronoque Sts in the city.
Hawker allegedly while being armed with a pistol, robbed four female Venezuelan nationals of several items, including their cell phones.
Police say that Hawker pulled out a .32 pistol from his waist, kicked open the door of the room where the victims were. He then pointed the firearm at them and relieved them of their cellphones.
Maria Perez, 27, was robbed of one Samsung cellphone valued at $50,000; Jenineth Salazar, a 21-year-old, was robbed of two cell phones valued at $40,000 and $50,000; Karla Meza, 21, was robbed of her blue Samsung cellphone valued at $26,000; and Jonan Figueroa, 35, was robbed of one blue Samsung S9 valued at $40,000.
While the robbery was in progress an alarm was raised and police ranks on mobile patrol immediately responded to the report. As the ranks approached the building, the suspect was seen walking down the stairs with the firearm in his right hand.
The ranks called on Hawker to drop the gun and surrender but instead, the police say the man discharged three rounds in the direction of the cops, forcing them to take cover.
One of the ranks returned fire, hitting the suspect in his right thigh and causing him to fall to the ground. The gunman was picked up by the ranks and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical attention under guard. The victims’ cellphones were recovered from Hawker’s pockets.
Seven live .32 rounds were also found in the suspect’s pockets. The police also retrieved the firearm – a .32 pistol – with the serial number filed off, three spent shells, and three live .32 rounds were found in the pistol.
Hawker is expected to be slapped with several charges.
