also
called `Shines', 47, of 54 Second Street, Little
Diamond, East Bank Demerara. He was shot once in
the right side of his chest.
According to reports reaching Stabroek News, the
man, who is the owner of a restaurant and liquor
store, was attacked by three bandits, two of
whom carried guns while the other was armed with
a chopper.
The incident happened at around 8:30 pm and the
man arrived at the Georgetown Public Hospital
Corporation (GPHC) at 9:57 pm and was pronounced
dead on arrival. An employee who was with him
and who was chopped on the
left ear refused treatment after hearing the
news of his employer's demise.
According to grieving relatives of the dead man,
Sookdeo was in the shop with his thirteen-year-old
son, Avinash.
Some of his employees and some friends were also
in the shop at the time. Stabroek News was told
that the businessman was just about to lock up
his shop when the bandits struck.
The three men approached the shop gate, which
was already closed but not padlocked, and asked
for a packet of cigarettes which was sold to
them by the son.
The men asked for a light and it was when the
boy was returning with the lighter that the men
opened the gate and entered the yard.
They immediately made the men in the shop lie on
the ground while the bandit with the chopper
dealt some of them lashes, chopping the employee
in the process.
"Two of dem had gun and when deh tell all
awe to lie down on the ground the next one with
the gun fire a shot in the ground and tell we if
anybody want fo fight back deh go shoot
we..." one man told Stabroek News.
He said by this time the third bandit was
already in the shop and they heard a single
shot. The man said that the men had chucked the
thirteen-year-old out of the way before getting
to the businessman.
From all indications, the third bandit who went
into the shop might have had a scuffle with the
businessman before he fired the fatal bullet.
"When he shoot he, he come out and run over
all a we lying down on the ground and then he
turn back and run over we again and pull out the
drawer in the bar and tek all the money."
The man and his accomplices then sprinted out of
the yard and from further reports they escaped
into the village without the assistance of a
vehicle.
The men said that persons in the neighbourhood
recalled seeing the attackers walking around the
village earlier.
Relatives said Sookdeo and his son were the only
persons living in his home as his wife and a
daughter are now residing in Trinidad while his
eldest daughter is in Canada. The businessman
has been operating the shop for years and had
never been robbed before last night.
Sookdeo's death followed those of three others
on Mon-day when gunmen opened fire on a shop in
Albouystown.
