Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM
Gas station customer shot dead minutes into 2011
Mere minutes into the new year, the celebrations and enjoyment were shattered as bandits invaded a Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice business place, killing a 28-year old labourer during the first reported armed robbery for the new year.
The Mars Gas Station where Sean Craig was fatally shot.
Dead is Sean Craig, a car washer of 57 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, who was shot in the chest at around 00:30 hours on New Year’s Day.
Craig’s friend and fellow car washer Wade Mc Donald, 42, was gun butted and received a graze from a bullet in the head and had to be treated at the New Amsterdam Hospital.
The incident occurred at the Mars gas station and variety store, which is owned and operated by Michael Mars and his wife Joan of 61 Tucber Park, New Amsterdam.
Police in a press statement said that their investigations have revealed that the proprietor of the Service Station Michael Mars and his wife Joan were in the supermarket area when they were held up by a man armed with a handgun.
The man took away a bag containing $500,000 just as Sean Craig and Wade McDonald entered the supermarket to make a purchase.
According to the police, the bandit confronted the two customers and dealt McDonald a blow to his head with the firearm.
Sean Craig was then shot in his chest, after which the bandit made good his escape.
The two injured men were subsequently taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where Craig was pronounced dead on arrival and McDonald was treated and sent away.
Speaking to this newspaper, Alister Cort, a cousin of the dead man said that both Craig and McDonald had finished working and had gone over to the nearby Mars Business place to have a few Beers to celebrate the beginning of the new year.
Kaieteur News was told that not many persons were in the business place and the owners had decided to take an early night.
But as they were in the process of closing up, the gunman entered, stating that “this is a robbery” and ordered them to lie on the floor.
They complied and at the same time MC Donald entered the premises and after seeing what was happening asked “Wha happening hey”?
His action angered the gunman who immediately gun-butted him and ordered him to lie on the floor.
Craig then followed into the shop and as he pulled the door, the gunman fired a shot in his direction, while at the same time asking, “Whey you going?”
Craig was hit in the chest and fell in front of the door.
According to reports, the bandit then snatched the bag containing the money and escaped through a side street that leads to the backlands.
The gunman it is understood was wearing a hood which partially covered his face. A few persons are in custody assisting with investigation.
This newspaper was reliably informed that following the incident, police sent out an all-station message with the aim of intercepting the suspected car used in the bandit’s escape. This led to a car being intercepted at a roadblock at Cove and John on the East Coast of Demerara on New Year’s Day and the occupants detained.
A police source said that the car was reportedly seen being driven in a suspicious manner in the area of the robbery shortly before it occurred. And in a later development, this newspaper was told that investigators have arrested who they believe is a leading suspect yesterday’s robbery.
Sean Craig is survived by two brothers while his father lives on the West Coast Berbice and his mother resides in England.
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