Two robbers critical after merchant fights back
It’s the kind of incident that brings out the secret vigilante in even the most liberal minded citizen. A hard working businessman rises early to open his shop, only to watch as his wife is beaten by two armed robbers who then turn their weapons on him. What would you do if faced with that situation? One Belize City merchant today turned a crime victim’s fantasy into stark reality. Ann-Marie reports.
Ann-Marie Williams
“An attempted robbery at Sikaffy’s Store on Albert Street this morning has left two gunmen in a critical condition and the shopkeeper shaken. Police say that just before 7:00 this morning, two men, John Franklin and Erlin Budran entered the store.”
Both men wore masks. Eighteen year old Franklin of Vernon Street carried a twenty-five calibre pistol and Budran, who resides on Wagner’s Lane, had a knife. Shopkeeper Sidney Sikaffy told police that they both demanded money. One of them grabbed his wife Beaulah by the neck, punched her in the face and chest and stole her gold chain with a jade medallion.
According to Sikaffy, they took forty dollars cash from a drawer. When they demanded more, instead of producing additional money, Sikaffy produced a nine millimetre pistol and ordered the robbers to drop their weapons.
Ann-Marie Williams
“Police say Sikaffy told them that one of the men fired a shot at him. He later opened fire and chased the two men into Bishop Street. According to an eyewitness shots rang out and then Budran fell first, at this spot. About twenty yards away Franklin eventually collapsed.”
An eyewitness who didn’t want to appear on camera said he heard a series of shots while on his way to work.
Voice of Eyewitness
“When I was in front of Ro-mac’s, I heard some loud gunshots and I saw the lady from Sikaffy come out saying “help! Help! Somebody help! Call 911.” So I immediately took off my cell phone and I dialled the number, and then I saw the gentleman from Sikaffy coming around the corner with his gun.”
Police came shortly after and found Franklin suffering from a bullet wound to the chest, his gun still in hand as he crouched against this nail salon. In his pants pocket he had the stolen gold chain and medallion along with the forty dollars. Budran was suffering from a gunshot wound to the back, while he carried a wristwatch, a pair of gold earring and an I.D. belonging to an E.P. Yorke student in his pocket. Police believe these may have been taken from an earlier victim. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
Both Franklin and Budran remain in critical condition at the K.H.M.H. According to a source at the hospital Budran’s spine has been damaged by the bullet and there is a chance that if he recovers he may be paralysed from the waist down.
