By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
RELATIVES are struggling to understand why a 70-year-old grandmother was shot at her residence during an early morning armed robbery.
Belpheam Lightbourne was critically injured in the neck and right shoulder when three men, armed with knives and one shot gun, robbed her and other family members, of thousands of dollars in valuables.
As they fled the apartment at Pholemus Street, at around 3.30am yesterday, one of the men fired a shot, injuring the woman. Police believe that she was not wounded intentionally.
“It was a robbery and they carry a lot out of this house,” said Mrs Lightbourne’s grandson 19-year-old Glenroy Brown.
“He was also at the residence with three other family members as the robbery took place.
“We still wondering why [they shot her].
“When we wake up in the middle of the night, they was over us with the guns. When I wake up it look like they did done move everything out the house so they was getting ready to leave. So when they was coming out they fired a shot.”
The thieves ultimately made off with a television, two laptops, clothes, shoes, a microwave oven and a fan, said Glenroy.
After their exit, one of the men fired the gun in the area of a bedroom, injuring Mrs Lightbourne.
She was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital where EMS personnel said her injuries were life threatening. Last night she was listed as in critical condition.
Police believe the three men forced the front door open which was secured by a dead lock. Eyewitnesses said a white van was seen leaving Pholemus Street and turning north onto Augusta Street shortly after the robbery.
Police sources told The Big T it is believed a resident in the home was part of a house breaking ring.
Police discovered the apartment did not have electricity and it has been questioned how and why so many electronic items would have been used.
Police are appealing to members of the public to come forward with information which might lead to the mens’ arrests.
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