WIFE of the businessman slain in Wednesday night's shooting spree in Ketley Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Mrs. Nandanie Parjohn, yesterday remained deeply shocked at the horror of the bandit attack which claimed the life of her husband, Leonard and another person - Carlton Norton of nearby Albouystown.

Most of then 10 other persons wounded in the attack by the gunmen were recovering in hospital.


Amid deep anguish, many persons huddled in the home of the Bheirs, (Nandanie's parents) to offer their condolences, resigned to seeing in the death of the 31-year-old businessman, an act of selflessness and profound fatherly love by one who took a decision to defend his family to the last.


Parjohn who, along with his wife and children tried desperately to seek cover as the heavily-armed bandits entered the business premises of `Steven's Beer Garden and Cheap Shop' on Wednesday night, were greeted with fierce gunfire.

DEAD: Proprietor, Leonard Parjohn. (image above)


The businessman reportedly hid his wife and children under a counter, but could not himself manage to fit there. As the ruthless gunmen continued their rampage, demanding cash, and ordering the proprietor to open the grill door, Parjohn maintained his stance not to open the door to let them deeper into the premises, relatives said.

One of the men, on seeing the businessman's family under the counter, pointed his gun at Parjohn's four-year-old daughter, and threatened to shoot her if the father did not open the door to let them in, they said.


It was at this stage that the businessman decided to give in to the gunmen's demands.

WOUNDED: Ghansham Jagbandhan, brother of Mahendra Jagbandhan, proprietor of `Pet Boy's Shop'.


He opened the door, a relative said, but the intruders, even after stashing an undisclosed amount of cash and the family's jewellery which Mrs. Parjohn, out of fear had handed over to them, shot the businessman in his head. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

At the home of the deceased yesterday, grief was evident everywhere, as scores of sympathisers, including the bereaved children's classmates and teachers, kept pouring in to extend their condolences.


Meanwhile, another family member, Mahendra Jagbandhan, proprietor of `Pet Boy's Shop' - the other business premises next door - said the ordeal lasted more than half-an-hour.


He said he was in the bar speaking with a law enforcement official who had stopped by to buy a beer, and there were about five other persons in the shop, when someone alerted him that a car was outside, moving suspiciously.


Mahendra said that before he was able to respond, the car had stopped, armed gunmen emerged and began shooting wildly. The law officer who was identified as Jeffrey Layne was shot in the back, and he (Mahendra) dived for cover.


He said he ran upstairs but was hotly pursued by the gunmen. He recalled that he hurriedly switched off the lights, and he and his wife hid in separate rooms where they remained undetected until the men had left the building.



SYMPATHISING: (image above) teachers and students of Ketley Street Primary School sympathising with the relatives of the dead man, Leonard Parjohn.


The bandits made off with more than $400,000 taken from the bar.

In the meantime, his stepdaughter Shelly panicked and jumped through a window on the top floor of the three-flat building, down into the yard. She injured a leg and had to be treated at a city hospital yesterday.


Norton, 22, was reportedly crossing the street when he was hit by a bullet as the bandits continued shooting while escaping.


Meanwhile, of the 10 persons wounded in the shooting, at least one - Layne - was discharged from the hospital yesterday.


Mahendra's brother Ghansham, who was shot in the region of the groin, remained in hospital, but was reported in stable condition. Sixteen-year-old Tamika Joseph of Broad Street, Charlestown, shot in the leg, was in the Intensive Care Unit, but in stable condition.


Sharon Reece 28, also shot in the groin, was also in the ICU in critical condition. Kwesi Leacock, 24, of Louisa Row and Shawnell Dawson of Pike Street, Kitty, and S. Dass, also of Pike Street, were in stable condition.


Adrian Reid, 27, of West Ruimveldt and Patricia Samaroo of Howes Street, Charlestown were yesterday in the High Dependency Recovery Unit of the hospital.


Police yesterday said that Layne's Toyota Corona motorcar, licence plate PEE 3254, which was hijacked when he was shot by the bandits, was discovered abandoned about 06:40 hrs on Annandale Railway Embankment Road, South.


Police said that around 20:20 hrs Wednesday, two motorcars - one white, and the other a black Marino, licence plate HA 9913, reportedly hijacked at the corner of Princes and Haley streets, pulled up in front of the Charlestown business premises.


Several gunmen left the vehicles and began shooting in different directions, Police said.


Four of the men entered Parjohn's premises where several patrons were and demanded money and jewellery at gunpoint.


The gunmen, once having gained entry to the residential dwelling, forced the couple upstairs, leaving the four children in a private room downstairs.


They then ransacked the bedrooms, taking away some $400,000 (local and foreign currency) and jewellery. It was after this haul that they shot Parjohn, relatives said.


In the meantime, other gunmen on the streets wreaked havoc, firing wildly, wounding several persons and causing damage to nearby buildings.


Witnesses said innocent passersby were caught up in the intense gunfire, and patrons on the premises alike were harassed and robbed.


One person recalled that in one of the shops, five persons were huddled in a toilet, taking cover, while incensed gunmen kicked and banged at the door.


The lone young woman hiding with four men in the lavatory said she shivered in her boots. "Ah remembered meh two children, and prayed to God to save meh life", she recalled.


She said she began crying out aloud, and the men in the toilet covered her mouth, admonishing her to keep quiet for their safety's sake.


"It was like a living nightmare", she recalled, adding, "Is only God save we."