Two Chinese shopkeepers wounded in George Street hold up
We touched on it briefly as a late breaking story on last night’s newscast, but today when I visited the scene of the crime I discovered that the shooting of two Chinese shopkeepers occurred not fifty feet from where police were rounding up local youths and not five minutes after the media left the area.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
The blood splattered floor is evidence of just how horrific the attack was on forty-eight year old Chinese businessman Bing Chang Zhao and his seventeen year old son Guang Chao Zhao. According to Li Xion Chen, her husband and child were in their store at number 133 George Street when a lone gunman simply walked up to the window and fired several shots inside the building.
Li Xion Chen, Wife/Mother of Victims [Translated]
“About five-thirty a man just come from out there and just started shooting in the shop about thirteen shots. My son and husband were standing behind the counter. My son was shot in the stomach and right leg. My husband was shot in hi left upper arm and left side of the chest.”
The father and son were rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they remain in a critical condition, but Li expects her family to recover. This bullet hole in the freezer will stand as a reminder of the attack.
But the family’s drama did not end with bullets. As they gathered at the K.H.M.H. to care for their loved ones, their shop was being burglarised. It is believed the thief or thieves used this piece of metal found lying in the yard to break open the back door. Today we found Li taking stock to see what was stolen.
Li Xion Chen
“They took some phone cards, groceries and some money. I do not know how much cash was taken.”
The police also do not know if the shooting and burglary are related, but they believe the victims were shot as a result of an attempted robbery.
Sr. Supt Chester Williams, Dep. O.C., Eastern Division
“At this time we are still trying to put the pieces together, trying to establish basically who is responsible for this crime. And in that same regards we are appealing to the public who may have information that can assist us in this investigation to please feel free to pass on the relevant information to us and we will do the necessary action to make sure that these persons are brought to justice.”
Li says both incidents have taken a toll on the family. She says they had only moved into the area two months ago and today they are not sure if they plan to remain in the neighbourhood.
Police have detained one person for questioning in the shooting.
