A betting shop employee who tried to retreive his employer's bank deposit from an armed bandit was shot twice in the thigh during a daylight robbery in San Fernando yesterday.
Andr� Lovelace, 47, was undergoing emergency surgery yesterday at the San Fernando General Hospital to remove two bullets from his thigh.
Police said around 4 pm Lovelace had just left work at Goodwood Racing Services along Coffee Street with a knapsack containing $7,000 to deposit in a bank on behalf of the business.
However, as he walked onto the adjacent La Coullie Street, he was ambushed by the gunman who demanded the bag.
When Lovelace refused, the gunman tried to grab it and both men began to struggle.
Eventually Lovelace was shot twice and as he fell to the ground, the gunman picked up the bag and ran off through the crowded street.
Lovelace was taken to hospital by a private vehicle. San Fernando CID, including ASP Rawl Ramdeo, Insp Don Gajadhar, Sgt Inshan Teeluck and Cpl Vinton Dinoo, responded and launched a search for the gunman.
Police were yet to hold the suspect and were hoping to get CCTV camera footage from surrounding properties.
Investigators also believe Lovelace was targeted and again advised business owners to use more secure ways to deposit their money at financial institutions. – (KF)