Police hunt gunmen who killed guard

The St Elizabeth police have launched a manhunt for three armed robbers who shot and killed a security officer, and wounded two others, during a foiled robbery attempt yesterday

The deceased has been identified as 50-year-old Anthony Endem, who is employed to Guardsman Limited. Reports are that about 8:15 a.m., Endem and his colleagues pulled up in an armoured truck outside the Western Union and Cambio on main street in Santa Cruz main street to drop off cash.

As they were unloading the cash, three men armed with handguns held them at gunpoint. The gunmen opened fire hitting them but the wounded guards challenged the gunmen, who had to make a hasty retreat and escaped in a white Honda Civic motor car.

INVESTIGATIONS

A large crowd quickly gathered at the scene, and commuters assisted the police in transporting the guards to the Black River Hospital where Endem was pronounced dead, and the others admitted in serious condition. The police also reported that based on their investigations, the robbers did not get any cash.

The St Elizabeth police said a series of robberies have been taking place in the parish since early last year, and several businesses have been targeted, with millions taken.

Police personnel in Santa Cruz believe the criminals are studying the sometimes slow traffic flow in Santa Cruz, and are using it to their advantage.

"Santa Cruz is a small township with a large traffic build up, and when there is heavy traffic, even us as police officers find it difficult to traverse, even in cases of emergency," one senior cop told THE STAR. "I personally believe there is too much heavy traffic to deal with, and when these robberies take place, the robbers will study their surroundings, know where to park and the easy routes to escape."

The cop pointed to last year's incident where the same outlet was robbed of several million dollars.

"That particular robbery is one of those where the police team which responded was gravely affected by the major early morning traffic congestion which had built up within the township," the officer stated.

Several persons have voiced their concerns that their businesses have become prime targets for armed robbers, and they also believe the traffic flowing into and out of Santa Cruz is a contributing factor.