Dr. David Allen

RENOWNED psychiatrist Dr. David Allen said he prayed with the three young men who held him at gunpoint during a home invasion early on Tuesday morning.

In an interview with The Tribune hours after the ordeal, Dr. Allen said he felt God’s presence during the entire robbery and even though he had a gun pointed to his head, he was not afraid because he knew that “God’s grace is sufficient.”

The robbery took place around 6:30am at Dr. Allen’s West Bay Street home. Dr. Allen’s daughter and grandchildren were also at home during the invasion, however no one was harmed.

Dr. Allen said his daughter woke him up after the three men got in the house through a kitchen window and then kicked down her bedroom door.

“The men were masked, two of them had guns, the other had an object in his hand but I am not sure what it was. They demanded gold and money. I told them they can have whatever they wanted and begged them for grace and not to hurt my family,” Dr. Allen said.

“They searched the house and took jewellery and other stuff and then yanked the gold chain off my neck. In total, they were there about 30 minutes. When they were leaving I asked them if I could pray with them and they stopped and we prayed. I asked God for grace and mercy and I told them I understood that it was a difficult time in the country.”

Dr. Allen said his daughter was a “hero” who remained calm during the incident. He also said he knows what young men are going through because he encounters all types of persons in his Family: People Helping People programme.

“I have been fighting against this kind of thing for a number of years. I am now a part of what everyone is going through,” Dr. Allen said.

“I understand that our young people are challenged but God’s presence is powerful, so powerful that they reassured me they would not hurt my daughter and they did not. By God’s grace we were unharmed. So we must give thanks.

“I work with these types of people everyday, this is my life. I always say nothing stops a bullet quite like a job and as back to school is right around the corner, I expect that these sorts of things will happen. All this means is, we have to double our efforts but I have hope. My family is fine, I am blessed and God is still on the throne.”

Dr. Allen said he is going to remain in his house and is not afraid to sleep there. He praised Officer-in-Charge of the Central Detective Unit Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander for his professionalism and the “wonderful way he treated me and my family.”

Last night, Chief Supt. Fernander said police had arrested two men in connection with this incident.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

By Sancheska Brown, Tribune Staff Reporter

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