Gunman shoots Beacon Foundation accountant

-motive unclear

Public-spirited citizens carry Accountant  Sookraj who was shot by a lone gunman yesterday

A lone gunman sneaked into the Beacon Foundation's Carmichael and Quamina Streets offices shortly after noon yesterday and shot the accountant of the charitable organisation before escaping on a bicycle.

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Khemraj Sookdeo, 59, of Lot 59 Shell Road Kitty, was shot in the chest at around 12:15 hrs by gunman who had cornered him in the kitchen of the two-flat building.

He was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation's High Dependency Unit (HDU) where his condition is listed as critical.

Police said that the motive for the shooting is unclear, since the gunman fled empty-handed and did not appear to be intent on stealing anything.

The suspect, who was dressed in a yellow shirt and black trousers, walked up to the guard at the Beacon Foundation front gate and asked to see the manager.

According to reports, the man claimed that a woman who had worked with the organisation had sent him, and the guard allowed him to enter.

Kaieteur News understands that as the visitor entered the upper flat, he encountered a senior official, and claimed he was there to see a female employee.

He was reportedly told that the woman no longer worked with the organisation, but he still continued up the stairs.

About a minute later, employees heard an explosive sound, and also heard Sookdeo, the accountant, calling for help.

Kaieteur News understands that the staff then saw the ‘visitor' rapidly exiting the building. He then ran into Carmichael Street before fleeing on a bicycle.

Meanwhile, some of the employees rushed to the kitchen, where they found Sookdeo on the floor bleeding profusely from a wound to the chest.

The injured man was rushed to the hospital, where he was treated in the Accident and Emergency Unit before being admitted to the High Dependency Unit.

The suspect remains at large.

Saturday 03-10-2007