[UPDATED] C3 store owner robbed, shot in carpark

A C3 Shopping Centre business owner was shot in the mall’s carpark and relieved of $230,000 and his vehicle on the night of March 8.

Police said Shi Yyan, 46, a Chinese national who lives in La Romaine, was walking to his white Toyota Hiace in the mall’s carpark when he was approached by two men who announced a robbery around 7.45 pm.

Yyan handed over the money, which he told investigators was from the day’s sales and rent he collected from other properties, to the men who also took his keys. One of the assailants then shot Yyan in his chest before jumping into his panel van and escaping.

PC Pitt and Rivers of the St Madeleine police station responded to the incident and took Yyan to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was warded in stable condition.

Police later found his van abandoned along Charles Street, Gasparillo.

Investigations are ongoing.

Yyan owns the Soft Steps shoe store, which, according to the mall’s Instagram page, opened on level one in December.

Newsday understands that C3 ended a longstanding partnership with security provider Telecom Security Services on March 5.

The incident has left other business owners at the mall fearful for the safety of their employees and themselves. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one owner said he was now exploring how to make himself not an easy target.

“We trying to figure out how to change up we routine right now for people not to notice you coming and going a particular hour and time. All about really unsafe too...but for it to reach close to you, that’s when you does really feel it.”

While he was not there at the time of the attack, he said one of his female employees was very shaken by the incident as she was minutes away from taking the same route to leave work.

Another business owner who spoke on the condition of anonymity expressed disappointment in the incident. He said one of the main reasons he chose to open his business at the mall was for safety.

He believes the mall needs to strengthen security protocols and exercises during peak periods on weekends when there is a heavy customer presence.

“They’re already aware that from 11 in the night, there’s a lot of people inside there so let we say from 6 pm to 12 am, there should be clamped down – screening, preventative (measures), checking cars and things like that should be a must on a weekend.”

He also believes every section of the mall needs to have a strong security presence to ensure there are no blind spots.

One worker, who was also scared for her safety, told Newsday she was grateful no one else was injured in the incident. She said the attack happened close to when children’s movies typically let out and there are typically a lot of families at the mall on a Saturday evening.

Newsday was unable to reach the mall’s property manager for comment.

This story was originally published with the title C3 business owner robbed, shot in carpark and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A Chinese national and C3 Shopping Centre business owner was shot in the mall's carpark and relieved of $230,000 and his vehicle on the night of March 8.

Police said Shi Yyan, who lives in La Romaine, was walking to his white Toyota Hiace in the mall's carpark when he was approached by two men who announced a robbery.

Yyan handed over the money, which he told investigators was from the day's sales and rent he collected from other properties, to the men who also took his keys. One of the assailants then shot Yyan in his chest before jumping into his panel van and escaping.

PC Pitt and Rivers of the St Madeleine police station responded to the incident. Yyan was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital and was warded in stable condition.

Police later found the van abandoned in Gasparillo.

Enquiries are continuing.

Yyan owns the Soft Steps shoe store, which according to the mall's Instagram page, opened in December 2024.