Drama at West Mall fast food outlet... Three bandits shot

By Nalinee Seelal, www.newsday.co.tt

Three bandits armed with guns were shot and wounded when they attempted to rob cashiers at the West Mall branch of Kentucky Fried Chicken of $65,000.

Reports revealed that around 2 am yesterday, three men armed with guns entered the KFC outlet and held up an unarmed security guard.

They were about to jump the counter, to go to the office where over $65,000 was being checked by two cashiers, when an armed Amalgamated guard who was inside the office challenged the gunmen.

The guard opened fire and the three bandits were shot. They fled the scene empty handed.

Officers of the Four Roads Police Station were contacted and a party of officers led by Sgt Ramsubhag, and including Cpls Hannays, Dass, Montrichard, and PC Narine Angatire, went to the scene and seized a home made shotgun, and a mask. They also combed the area and found one of the suspects in a drain bleeding from gunshot wounds.

He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was treated and warded under police guard.

The suspect was identified as a 22-year-old man of Farm Road, Diego Martin. He was in an unsatisfactory condition at hospital up until late yesterday.

Police officers believe that the other two bandits are also seriously wounded and may seek medical attention.

The car which was used by the bandits to escape was found abandoned at Bagatelle, Diego Martin with blood stains and a sawed off shotgun inside.

The car was checked for fingerprints and later taken to the Four Roads Police Station. The 29-year-old guard who foiled the robbery was praised by the management of KFC and his superiors.

The search continued yesterday for the two wounded bandits.