Latest update December 21st, 2024 1:52 AM
Shopkeeper, 71, shot dead by bandits
A major section of the East Coast Demerara village of Plaisance is mourning the slaying of popular shopkeeper Derrick Cox who was shot dead by bandits on Saturday night.
The 71-year-old businessman, who operates a grocery on 71 Ramos Street, Plaisance, was shot in the chest and died before he could receive medical attention.
The dead shopkeeper’s premises shut following Saturday night’s shooting.
Cox, who is popularly called “Backatoo,” was alone in his shop when he was attacked and from all indications put up a fierce fight with his killers before he was shot.
“He started hollering for ‘Thief! Thief! Murder! Murder!’” a relative who lives in the same yard told this newspaper.
There was evidence that the killers hurriedly escaped, as several currency notes were scattered on the floor of Cox’s shop.
Reports indicate that the killers fled the scene in a car.
A resident said that shortly after hearing the gunshots, she saw two men running from the direction of the slain man’s shop towards a white car which was parked at the eastern end of Ramos Street.
The resident said that the occupants then sped west along Ramos Street.
Some close friends suggested that Cox was washing some utensils at a pipe outside his shop when the bandits attacked him.
Police in a press release stated that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of businessman Deryck Cox, who was found with suspected gunshot wounds to his body at the entrance to his grocery shop at about 22:50 hours on Saturday.
The police said that investigators recovered two spent shells at the scene.
Cox’s killing occurred just as the closely knit community was in the midst of preparing for Christmas and for many villagers, it has certainly dampened their spirits.
When this newspaper visited the scene early yesterday morning, many of them were still in shock with one woman remarking that she had fallen sick as a result of Cox’s death, especially the manner in which it occurred.
Adeli, a relative who lives in the same yard recalled that it was a little after 2:00 hrs, and she was in her living room when she heard a loud sound as several cases of bottles crashed to the ground.
Immediately after she heard the sounds of what sounded like two gunshots.
Adeli said that she did not venture out of her house although she was convinced that the sounds were coming from Cox’s shop, which is situated at the front of the yard.
Eventually the bandits must have fled leaving the mortally wounded Cox lying in a pool of blood.
He however called out to Adeli, asking her to call for help.
“I could not come out because is a young baby I got here, so I push the window and he keep talking to me…but he tell me to call his nephew…I call them and they came,” Adeli told this newspaper
She said that all that time Cox, who kept himself physically well, was still alive.
“He was gasping for breath, he was right there by the door lying on the ground. The confusion was great; who ain’t had taxi number, but lil after they get something to take him to the hospital,”
She believes that the bandits fled empty handed.
“They didn’t carry away anything because the drawer with the money, everything deh the same way. I can’t really say if they thief anything,” she added.
According to relatives, Cox, who had been operating the shop for decades, was robbed on several occasions and had vowed after then to defend his property against any further attack.
That position apparently cost him his life.
So far, investigators have not arrested anyone.
A post mortem examination will be performed on Cox’s body today.
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