Minimart owner shot in leg during robbery

As a result of a brazen robbery, workers at the Hills Minimart, Campden Park, may soon be out of a job{{more}} and more so, the community may lose a service that has been in existence for over 20 years.

On Friday, July 30, proprieter of Hills Minimart, St.Hill DaSilva, was the victim of a gunshot wound to his left leg after four masked men robbed his business place of an undisclosed sum of cash, shortly after 8:15p.m.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT on Monday afternoon from his bed at the Male Surgical Ward of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), a visibly aching DaSilva described the events as “heartbreaking”, but he is thankful that his life was spared.

Recalling the tragic Friday evening, DaSilva said he was stationed at the cash register desk when a masked man came and pointed a gun to his head.

“The person said don’t move, gimme your gun and cash,” he recalled. DaSilva stated that he did not have a gun on him and the robber, helped by another masked man, held onto him and carried him to the back of the shop.

“All this was going on while my workers and some customers was in the shop…They said ‘Lets take him to the back and kill him’ and when they been pulling me, one shot me in me knee,” recounted DaSilva.

DaSilva further stated he was then struck with an object on his forehead which knocked him to the floor.

Whilst on the floor, he recalled seeing the two other masked robbers beating his brother, Seinto DaSilva.

“When I was on the floor, I saw them beating up my brother and all the people were on the floor,” he said. After regaining consciousness from the blow he received to the forehead, DaSilvsa said one of the men placed the gun to his head and again demanded money.

“I was there on the ground, but I never answered…so when I didn’t answer, one of them tell me to say my prayers now ‘because yo dead.’”

Luckily for DaSilva, the gunmen dissapeared into the darkness of the night.

DaSilva, who lives upstairs the mini-mart, said he “Hopped up the stairs and locked the door that the leads to and from the mini-mart.” Minutes later, one of the mini-mart’s workers and a customer came to his assistance and rushed him to the MCMH for medical attention.

Although his life was spared, DaSilva was relieved of his gold chain and the cellular phone he runs his phone card business from.

He disclosed that this is the fourth time the mini-mart has been robbed.

DaSilva, who describes himself as a hardworking individual, said he does not need money. Instead, he just wants to help his community. “This community has always been there for me and I just want to give back…I don’t really need the business and I’m not sure if I am going to continue,” stated DaSilva. He also stressed the need for law authorities to weed out criminal element in the society.

Business was seemingly back to normal when SEARCHLIGHT visited the mini-mart yesterday afternoon, but workers are still in fear as a result of the unfortunate events.

One worker who preferred to remain anonymous, recalled seeing one of the masked robbers placing the gun to DaSilva’s head and demanding money. “The man told me ‘don’t move’ but somehow I eventually moved and go in the back and hide myself,” the worker said. The worker added that the men dragged DaSilva along the floor and shot him.

“Ah go tell you the truth, I pee my pants when all this been going on and up to now I cant sleep good at nights because you never know,” the worker added.

Another person, who also wished to remain anonymous, said she is still shaken up and added that DaSilva did not deserve such treatment.

“This is a good man…he gives people anything, even if you hungry he will feed you,” said the woman.

Police are investigating the incident.