Bandit, guard critical after botched robbery

The three men were held by the police, and one is listed in critical condition at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC).

A security guard is also listed in critical condition after he was beaten by the gunmen. No employees were injured.

Traffic slowed to a halt as a crowd gathered across the street from the Red Cell outlet to take in the action, leading to the ensuing traffic jam pile-up to the Mt Hope area.

Traumatised customer service representative, Alicia Beckles, told Newsday she was held at gunpoint by one of the men.

“He held a gun to my head and told me to give him the SIM cards and the telephones,” Beckles said.

Beckles stood in the arms of her father, Michael Beckles, and cried during the interview. “The gunman told me he will kill me before he leaves,” said Beckles. “I am afraid for my life.”

Beckles said most of the store was destroyed and the floor was covered with the blood of the injured gunman.

Another employee said the men came earlier that morning and pretended to be interested in buying cell phones.

According to police reports, three bandits stormed the outlet and announced a robbery at about 3.45 pm.

However, a customer service representative quietly slipped away to the bathroom, where she called the E99 Rapid Response Unit.

Two of the men were armed with guns and one of the men had a knife.

The gunmen then told the two employees and three customers to lie down on the ground.

One of the gunmen put a gun to the head of an employee who was told to give them the SIM cards and cell phones.

The security guard was then beaten severely by one of the men, while the others monitored the location.

Meanwhile, Northern Division Task Force (NDTF), North Eastern Division Task Force (NEDTF), and Tunapuna Task Force police responded to the call.

As the bandits heard the sirens, two of them ran outside behind the shop, where they were apprehended by the police.

When the police rushed inside the outlet, the last gunman in the store began shooting at the officers, who returned fire. The bandit was hit in his mouth, and slumped to the ground bleeding. The employees and customers then ran out of the store.

The gunman who was shot was then rushed to the EWMSC by police. He underwent emergency surgery and is listed in a critical condition.

Two men ages 18 and 19 of Acono Village, Maracas, St Joseph, were also held.

The injured security guard was rushed to the EWMSC where he was treated and warded. A Browning revolver and a .380 firearm were seized at the scene.

The Tunapuna Police Station is continuing the investigations.