Former National Cyclist Gene “Geronimo” Samuel was robbed while changing a flat tyre to his vehicle on the Beetham Highway on Wednesday night.
T&T Guardian understands that as the two suspects were running away with the loot—one of them aimed a gun towards Samuel forcing him to draw his firearm and open fire.
Police said one of the suspects was shot and wounded and believed to have made his way to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital for medical treatment.
The suspect was warded under heavy police guard pending further investigations.
According to a police report, at 8 pm, Samuel, who was driving a multi-coloured Toyota wagon was proceeding west along the highway when he got a flat tyre.
Whilst there he was approached by two men.
Police said one of the suspects pointed a firearm at Samuel and relieved him of a gold chain and gold ring.
That suspect, while running away from the scene, pointed the firearm in Samuel’s direction forcing him to draw his pistol.
Police said Samuel, who expressed fear for his life, opened fire on the suspects. The men then ran north into the Beetham Gardens where Samuel observed one of the suspects limping near a scrap yard.
Investigating officers were later notified that a man from the Beetham Gardens came to the hospital seeking treatment for gunshot wounds.
In an unrelated incident, another bandit was left hospitalised after his victim knocked him down with his taxi on Tuesday night. According to police reports, around 11 pm, the bandit, posing as a passenger, stopped the taxi in San Juan to be taken to Port-of-Spain. On reaching in the vicinity of William H Scott along Independence Square the passenger pulled out a gun and robbed the driver of an unspecified amount of money and ran out the vehicle.
The driver turned south along Nelson Street and while heading east on South Quay, he saw the man walking and knocked him down.
Police said as the bandit rolled around in agony, another car passed and picked up a bag, believed to contain the gun and cash the bandit had on him. The unfortunate culprit suffered no major injuries save for a few cuts and bruises on the head and face was treated at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and then discharged.
The man, who is in his early twenties from East Port-of-Spain is now at the Besson Street Police Station awaiting to undergo identification parades before he is officially charged.
Rhondor Dowlat and Jensen La Vende