Businessman, patron shot in Arima

AN ARIMA businessman and a patron were both shot in separate incidents within 45 minutes of each other in Arima Friday night and lawmen are working on the theory that the same people are responsible for the shootings.

In the first instance, police said around 9pm Roger Hernandez, 40, of Arima, was at the Major League Sports Cafe, Olton Road, Arima. Police said two armed men then entered and held up Hernandez, who was relieved of $700.  As the bandits were making their exit, police said one of them fired a shot, striking Hernandez in his lower back. He was first rushed to the Arima Health Facility then transferred to Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where he is reported to be in stable condition.

In the other shooting, police said around 9.45pm Foster Duncan, 44, proprietor of Columbus Bar, was at his businessplace at Subero Street, Malabar. Police said two armed men approached and held Foster up, stealing $1,000 from the businessman.  They then shot Foster on his left thigh and made good their escape on foot. Foster, too,  was initially rushed to the Arima Health Facility then taken to Port-of-Spain General Hospital.  He is also said to be stable. No arrests had been made in either of the shootings and PCs Groome and Lakhai of Arima Criminal Investigations Department (CID) are continuing investigations.