After walking into a New Grant bar to stage a daring robbery, a 29-year-old Rio Claro man was shot by the owner and later bled to death.Police said Kelan Lares escaped after being shot by Winston Williams, the owner of Pajo's Bar, along the Torrib Tabaquite Road on Friday night. Although he managed to escape, he was found dead half an hour later, after a high speed chase with police.
A 16-year-old Vistabella schoolgirl was among four people arrested by police after they were found hiding in some bushes near Lares' black Sunny B-14.According to reports, three masked, armed assailants and two women walked into the bar shortly after 11.30 pm and announced a robbery. Williams, who was in the porch of the bar, managed to escape to the back of the bar while the assailants stole money, cigarettes and liquor from behind the counter.
Williams said he returned to the bar with his licensed firearm and as one of the suspects pointed a gun at him, he fired a single shot. All five suspects ran out the bar and escaped in Lares' car.Princes Town police were contacted and an all-points bulletin was issued. Officers led by Snr Supt Santana, ASP Mohammed, Insp Gajadhar and Sgt Roget intercepted the car at Hard Bargain, Williamsville.
As officers approached the car, they found Lares dead in the driver's seat. As they searched for his accomplices, they found four women hiding in bushes near Crawford's Bar.Police arrested a 16-year-old schoolgirl, her 22-year-old relative and 38-year-old neighbour of Vistabella, along with a 27-year-old Belmont woman.
Speaking with reporters yesterday, Williams said that although he was fearful of the assailants, he had to protect his family and friends who were at the bar during the robbery. He said it was the third time the bar was robbed despite his having installed CCTV cameras."Right now I can't function properly, I am still scared because I don't know what is next," he said. Williams said he plans to implement additional security measures.