Robber shot by truck driver

A robber who held up a goods truck driver in Montego Bay last Friday with a knife, got the surprise of his life when his intended victim, a licensed firearm holder, pulled his weapon and shot him.

The 31-year-old would-be robber, who the police did not identify, as he is being investigated for other similar incidents in Montego Bay, is now a patient in the Cornwall Regional Hospital, under police guard.

According to reports, at about 1 p.m., the driver drove to the intersection of St James and Creek streets in downtown Montego Bay, to drop off baked products.

After he alighted from the vehicle, he was held from behind by a man who held a knife at his neck.

While the knife wielder was demanding money and rifling through his pockets, the agile driver managed to break free.

The robber tried to grab him again but the driver pulled his gun before opening fire.

BLEEDING ROBBER

The surprised robber, who was shot in his upper body, ran off down Barnett Street in the vicinity of the Barnett Street Police Station.

A policeman, who responded to the sound of the gunshot, saw the robber running towards the Old Shoes Market and held him.

When he was held, the bleeding robber still had the money he had taken from the driver's pocket in his hands. He was rushed to the hospital.

While he was being treated, he was formally charged and placed under police guard.

When the WESTERN STAR visited the location, a number of vendors were seen discussing the incident and heaping praise on the truck driver.

According to them, petty thieves are common in the area and even some of the them have been victims of robberies.

"Me love how the driver deal with him case ... every day God send dem (thieves) out yah de rob people," said one vendor. "Him lucky him (the robber) neva kick de bucket ... a hope him change him ways if him survive."