By CHESTER ROBARDS

Tribune Senior Reporter

crobards@tribunemedia.net

A MAN in his forties is the country’s latest victim of murder, having been gunned down in a daytime robbery just off Tonique Williams-Darling Highway.

Superintendent Paul Rolle, head of the Central Detective Unit, said the man was shot just after 1:00pm on a road behind Eagle Electrical Supplies and Lighting Centre.

According to Supt Rolle, the motive behind the shooting appears to have been robbery. He said this brings the country’s murder count to 34.

Six people have been murdered in just the past week.

Supt Rolle said their initial investigations revealed that the gunman may have asked the man for his possessions, but shot at him as he began to get out of his truck.

“When the man was about to exit his truck the assailant opened fire, striking him to the upper and lower extremities,” said Supt Rolle.

However, it is not certain what the robber made off with, he said: “It doesn’t appear as if they got anything from him.”

Police canvassed the bushes behind Eagle Electric that extends into the Blue Hill Heights area yesterday afternoon. Supt Rolle said the gunman ran south up a hill to make his escape.

He said police hope that surveillance video from cameras attached to the outside of Eagle Electric will be able to assist them with their investigations.

Eyewitnesses are also assisting police with their investigations.

“We are speaking to an individual right now at the office who is providing some information for us,” Supt. Rolle said.