… but driver takes passengers to safety before collapsingTwo persons were wounded when gunmen opened fire on a jeep load of passengers leaving the Ogle Aerodrome yesterday. The police say that the attack was an attempted robbery.Michael Bryan Jackson,Mark Gonzalez Chile Jersey, 32, the driver of the vehicle and of Dowding Street,NCAA Baseball Jerseys, Kitty, was shot in the buttocks and was admitted a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital, while Vanessa Mendonca,Ray Nitschke Packers Jersey, a cleaner at the Ogle Aerodrome, sustained injuries to her knees from glass fragments.The attack was aborted when Jackson managed to drive away from the gunmen and head to the Sparendaam Police Station. Police in a press release say that they are investigating a case of suspected armed robbery attempt that occurred at about 12:15 hours yesterday along the Ogle Access Road, East Coast Demerara.According to the police, investigations so far have revealed that Jackson, who is employed with an interior charter service, had gone to the Ogle Aerodrome to collect cargo and other items. He was on his way from the aerodrome in motor jeep GJJ 7277 when the gunmen pounced.In the vehicle with him were a flight dispatcher of the same charter service, Margaret Maxius,Andre Ethier Jersey, of William Street, Kitty, and two female cleaners, one of whom was Mendonca, and a male porter who worked at the aerodrome and was being given a lift.Upon approaching the Access Road, Jackson observed a motor car parked across the road and a man standing outside with a firearm. Two other men were inside the parked car.Suspecting a robbery attempt, he accelerated the vehicle and the man with the firearm opened fire on the vehicle, which was heading towards the main road.The attackers gave chase in the motor car, discharging rounds at Jackson’s vehicle.The police said that as Jackson’s vehicle reached the East Coast Public Road, the bandits turned back and escaped along the Railway Embankment.Jackson managed to drive to the proximity of the Sparendaam Police Station before losing consciousness. Apart from Jackson and Mendonca, no other person was injured.The vehicle bore a number of bullet holes and the rear windscreen was shattered.Speaking to this newspaper, Mendonca said that she and another woman had begged for a drop to the main road when the incident occurred.“As soon as we vehicle swing out, the other vehicle was parked right deh. Dem man start shooting. Dem man had some long gun,” Mendonca told this newspaper while awaiting treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.“Dem man fat. Is some fat man; not no ‘Fine Man’. Dem man driving and shooting,” she sobbed.“I can’t really say if is a robbery. All dem man do is shoot and Mickey drive. We say,China Jerseys Wholesale, ‘Mickey drive’,Charlie Blackmon Rockies Jersey,” Mendonca added. A policeman at the Sparendaam Police Station recalled seeing the pick-up approaching and it appeared as if the driver had lost control of the vehicle.He said that he ran towards the vehicle and saw the driver slouched over the steering wheel, while the other passengers were screaming.The policeman was forced to open the door and disengage the vehicle before pulling out the unconscious Jackson.This newspaper understands that the charter service would normally receive minerals from miners in the interior to conduct business in the city.It is believed that the gunmen had knowledge of the operation and had planned their attack shortly after one of the charter flights arrived.Police say they recovered a 7.62 x 39 spent shell and a warhead at the scene. Meanwhile, in a subsequent release the police said they are looking for four men identified as ‘Trini’; ‘Yankee’; ‘Capone’; and ‘Sandman’.Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of these men are asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 226-6978, 226-1326, 225-8196, 229-2700 to 2, 229-2019, 911 or the nearest police station.All information will be treated with strict confidence. |