Police, bandits trade bullets after supermarket robbery; one suspect arrested

Police on Friday arrested a 20-year-old unemployed resident of Leopold Street, Georgetown, in connection with the armed robbery of the Hong Yuang Supermarket on the East Coast of Demerara as the hunt continues for his accomplice.

Police Headquarters reported that the incident occurred between 16:52 hrs and 17:00 hrs by two men, one of whom was armed with a knife and the other a handgun. Both suspects were wearing surgical masks with hoodies over their heads (one had on a grey hoodie, and the other a black hoodie).

They carted off with cash, a quantity of GTT cell phone cards and two Samsung cell phones belonging to the proprietors.

The security guard at the supermarket, a 52-year-old from Friendship, ECD, attached to Omkar Persaud Security Service, told the police that he saw when the suspects arrived at the supermarket on a motorcycle bearing registration number CL 5553.

He said both suspects entered the supermarket, proceeded to the cashier areas where they took an undisclosed sum of cash and phone cards. One of the suspects relieved the proprietor of the mentioned cell phones and then escaped.

Police reviewed footage from several CCTV cameras and at 16:59 hrs, someone called Vigilance Police Station and reported the matter.

As a result, a police patrol responded promptly, and while proceeding west along Lusignan Prison Road, the suspects were spotted on the motorcycle.

The ranks gave chase and while in pursuit, one of the suspects (pillion rider) discharged several rounds in the direction of the ranks, who returned fire in their direction.

During the chase at Felicity, Railway Embankment, the suspects lost control of the motorcycle and fell into a nearby trench.

Both suspects got up, left the motorcycle, and began running and jumping several fences headed North into a bushy area. The ranks gave chase behind them but they managed to escape.

Police canvased the area where they fell, and one 9mm pistol, one magazine with six live matching rounds and one round in the chamber (total 7); a Samsung cell phone; one black side bag containing a quantity of 20 dollar bills totalling $1,240 and one knife were found on the ground, about one foot away from the motorcycle.

At around 22:25 hrs, acting on information received, Police arrested the suspect who fitted the description of one of the suspects. He was told of the allegation, cautioned, arrested, and taken to Vigilance Police Station, where he was placed into custody to assist with the investigation.