The cold-blooded killing of Shirool Persaud, 42, sent shock waves among other business people and shoppers and her stunned husband and store co-owner, Ajoda Persaud, also called Boyo, 50, said it was an attack he never expected.

“Daytime in Regent Street, these things don’t happen,” he shook his head in the aftermath of the attack, trying to come to terms with the devastating tragedy.

His wife was shot several times in the head and about the body while she tried to fight off the two bandits who struck while she was in the cashier’s cage and with employees around.

Persaud said the two fled with an undisclosed sum of money, the takings from the previous day’s sale at Boyo’s Variety Store.

The couple and their two children live at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara.

Witnesses said that at about 11:40h, two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, entered the store and pretended they were customers while Shirool was in the cashier’s cage.

Police in a press release said the man with the gun suddenly rushed into the cashier’s cage through the doorway and demanded cash. During the robbery, the man discharged several rounds hitting Shirool about the body.

This newspaper understands she tried to fend off her attackers and was shot at least four times in the head, chest and other parts of the body.

The two men then escaped on foot after grabbing an undisclosed sum of cash and a bag with documents, Police said. Five 9mm spent shells and two warheads were recovered at the scene.

Boyo told this newspaper he and his wife went to the Robb Street branch of Scotia Bank at about 09:30 h yesterday to do business but it was not a money transaction.

A section of the large crowd which converged on the scene after the shooting

He said they returned to the store about 11:00 h and he went out again for another 20 minutes and then returned. He said he then took two of his employees and went into the storeroom to cut vinolay to place on shelves while his wife remained in the cashier’s cage.

Employees of the store try to console each other after the incident

According to the distraught husband, he was at the back of the store when he heard his wife call out his name and this was followed by a gunshot. &#x201CI heard my wife shout and call my name and then I heard the gunshot and I realized it was a robbery.”

Boyo said he hesitated and mere seconds later, another gunshot rang out and this forced him to run for cover and he hid in the toilet. &#x201CI went into the washroom which was about five feet away from me and the other two girls ran upstairs,” he recounted.

He said this was followed by a few more shots before everything went quiet. &#x201CI was traumatized by then and it took me a few minutes to come out.”

But when he emerged, and rushed to his wife’s side and turned her over, the sight of the blood gushing from her head told him she was already dead.

Persons nearby said when the shooting ended, two men -- one short and slim with a hat pulled down in his face, and the other, a tall man who also had his hat pulled low in his face -- left the store and headed in an eastern direction.

One man said he saw the taller of the two put a gun in a bag and the duo calmly walked up the street. When they were in the vicinity of Kei-Shars store, they entered a gold coloured car and fled the scene, witnesses said.

Police stated that following the robbery, ranks in two mobile patrols, who were in the area, along with a third from the Brickdam Police Station, responded promptly to the report, but the two suspects managed to escape before their arrival.

He said his wife was very instrumental in the success of the business. &#x201CShe was a tower of strength to the business, to me and to many other people,” he told this newspaper.

According to Boyo, his wife was very kind and was always giving persons little gifts. &#x201CSometimes we would even quarrel because she always giving away things to persons,” he told the Guyana Chronicle last night.

The store owned by the Persauds which came under attack yesterday

They were married about 16 years ago and have two children, Feroze who turns 11 today and nine-year old Aliyah.

The father said telling the children about their mother’s death was not easy.

“I told them what happened and they both watched at me and cried.”

“It is a situation where these men come prepared and you are not, so they always have the upper hand,” he said.

Boyo described the relationship between his children and their mother as “throwing milk in porridge because you can’t separate the two.”

He recalled that whenever they travelled abroad on business, Shirool would always insist that she contact the children when she reached her destination.

“It could be as far as China, she calling them to find out how was school,” he related.

He said his wife planned to spend very little time at the store yesterday since they were preparing food for people fasting this week at their village mosque as part of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan observance.

In addition, she was supposed to buy items to prepare to take to an orphanage to celebrate her son’s birthday today, as is customary, he said.

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gerry Gouveia, left, and Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green at the scene

Boyo urged the Police to have more patrols around the area to ensure that shoppers and business owners alike can feel safe.

He said it was an affront to all law-abiding citizens and people on the streets now have to be very careful. He said the Police Force needs to focus its energies on issues like this.

According to Gouveia, the force needs air-borne facilities to be able to track the movement of criminals and deter crime.

He recalled that members of the business community met Home Affairs Minister, Mr Clement Rohee Monday and the issue was raised.

He said several recommendations were made and the GCCI intends to meet law enforcement agencies regularly.

“We are going to be proactive and follow up on issues that bother us,” he said, adding that they will not be sidelined since they want to be constructive in their engagement.

Gouveia hopes the investigators do a thorough job and can produce needed results quickly.

Shirool is to be buried tomorrow.