Sunday 8 August 2010

Convenience Store Shooting: CCTV Released


These are the late-night gun-wielding robbers police are hunting for two armed raids on convenience stores in which a shop assistant was shot in the neck when he refused to hand over cash.

Flying Squad detectives have released CCTV images of the suspects in the hope someone may be able to identify them.

The first robbery occurred at approximately 1.45 am on February 17 at Rainbow Food and Wines, 643 Green Lanes, Haringey, North London.

Officers attended the scene to discover a 51-year-old male shopworker with a gunshot wound to his neck.

He was taken to hospital where he remained for some days.

The two suspects pulled up outside the shop on a motorbike with the passenger entering the premises, threatening the shopworker with a handgun and demanding money.

When the victim, believing the gun to be fake, refused his demands, the suspect shot him before leaving the shop empty-handed.

The suspects then drove southbound along Green Lanes - in the direction of Manor House.

A second male shopworker was also in the shop at the time. He was uninjured.

Detectives believe this incident could be linked to a second armed robbery in Hackney 25 minutes later.

Police were called at 2.10 am to Shoreditch Food and Wine, 43 Hackney Rd, Bethnal Green.

A male suspect entered the shop, threatened the male shopworker with a firearm and demanded money.

A second man then came into the premises, approached the counter and took money from the till.

No shots were fired and no one was injured.

Both suspects (who wore helmets during the incident) then left the scene on a motorbike.

The first suspect is described as black, wearing a black puffa-style jacket, blue jeans, black gloves and a black helmet with a white logo above the visor. He was in possession of a black self-loading pistol.

The second suspect is described as black, wearing a blue puffa-style jacket, blue jeans, black gloves and a black and silver ‘Ariel’ helmet.

No arrests have been made in connection with either incident and detectives are hoping that releasing the CCTV images could assist their investigation.

Detective Constable Dawn Bolitho, of Finchley Flying Squad, said: “The victim of the initial robbery was extremely lucky to escape with his life after being shot in the neck at close range.

“The willingness of the suspects to use violence as a means to an end illustrates their callous nature and makes it imperative we identify them and hold them responsible for their actions.

“I would urgently appeal to any witnesses of either incident or anyone who believes they may recognise the individuals in the images to contact police.”

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