Car bandit shot dead by cops

AN UNIDENTIFIED bandit who stole a white Nissan B-13 car from a man in Wallerfield was yesterday shot dead by police officers in the stolen vehicle near the El Dorado branch of Hi-Lo Supermarket. The drama started at 9 am, when Danny Beepath was driving his car in Wallerfield, and was held up at gunpoint by the bandit who ordered him out of the vehicle. Beepath, who was also robbed of a quantity of cash, alerted officers of the Arima Police Station who sent out an All Points Bulletin to police divisions to be on the lookout for the vehicle. The stolen car was spotted in the El Dorado area, and officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force in the district responded to the report. The area near the Hi-Lo Supermarket, where the bandit was seen driving, was cordoned off.

PC Manmohan, a motorcyclist who also responded to the report, escaped with his life when the bandit pointed a .380 gun at him. The gun jammed and the bandit knocked Manmohan down with the car. The bandit then fired shots at the other police officers. The officers returned fire and the bandit was riddled with bullets. As he slumped over in the car, officers rushed to the scene and pulled out the blood stained body from the vehicle. An injured Manmohan was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where he was treated and warded.

The shooting scene was cordoned off and officers searched the dead man and found a quantity of cash and other items stolen from Beepath. Officers also seized a .380 pistol and a cell phone from the dead man’s pockets. The dead bandit remained unidentified up to late yesterday. Eyewitnesses heaped praise on the police for their quick response which led to the recovery of the stolen car. Beepath was also high in praise of the police, saying he was still shaken up over the incident. The dead bandit’s body was viewed by a district medical officer and ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre. Insp Hubert Sharpe, acting Insp John Daniel, and Cpl Moona visited the scene. Investigations are continuing.