Cop, brother shot in robbery attempt

That was how a mother described her two sons’, one of them a police officer, narrow escape from death yesterday when gunmen shot them in an attempted robbery.

“It is a double miracle. It is a miracle that they are alive. Both of them are good boys,” said Marian Le Gendre.

Her sons, PC Larry Le Gendre, 35, and his brother Lawrence, 30, remained warded at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) up to last evening nursing gunshot wounds.

Le Gendre, of the Mon Repos Police Station, sustained a gunshot wound to the face while Lawrence was shot in his neck.

The Le Gendre family are from Robert Village, Tableland.

Police report that at about 1.25 am yesterday, the brothers, their father, Alexander, 63, and patrons were liming at Country Cabin Sports Bar, Torrib Trace, New Grant. While the brothers were playing a game of pool, three men- two armed with a firearm and the other a cutlassstormed in and ordered patrons to lie down. A fracas ensued during which the gunmen opened fire.

Larry, who is on vacation leave, sustained a wound to the face and Lawrence was hit in his neck.

The accomplice with the cutlass planassed (to beat with the flat side of a cutlass) their father who he sustained minor injuries. The armed men wore masks and fled the scene empty- handed.

The brothers were taken to Princes Town Area Hospital and were later transferred to SFGH.

Speaking to Sunday Newsday at the hospital yesterday, their mother said each time her children go anywhere, she prays for their safety.

“Every time they go out I pray for them. I ask God to bless them and I trust in God. Larry has some bleeding in his right ear.

“The bullet entered his nose and came out his ear. Lawrence is more alert than Larry,” Marian said. She is a mother of three and grandmother of three.

Lawrence, an electrical technician, recalled while playing pool, a gunman came from behind him and a scuffle ensued with patrons. He said he was on the ground when the second gunman walked up and shot him.

“That time, Larry was already shot. The bullet entered and exited my neck. We are lucky to be alive,” said Lawrence.

Up to yesterday officers of the Princes Town Police Station were reviewing CCTV footage and investigations are continuing.