The son of a poultry depot owner was shot dead by a customer yesterday, after he refused to cut up a chicken. Last night, police were searching for two suspects, who were seen fleeing the scene of the murder in a Nissan AD wagon.

Investigators said Ravi Sookdeo, 24, was working in his father’s poultry depot at Fanny Village, Point Fortin, when two men, walked into the shop. Police said the men demanded that Sookdeo cut up a chicken. Investigators said when Sookdeo told the men that he could not slice the chicken, one of them whipped out a gun and shot Sookdeo once to the face. The bullet entered Sookdeo’s mouth and exited through his right cheek. The men then fled the scene, leaving Sookdeo dead on the ground. Another employee who witnessed the murder was expected to be placed in a police safe house last night.
A source who requested anonymity said shortly before the murder was committed, a resident saw the AD wagon speeding out of Reid Road. Two men were seen jumping into the AD wagon before it sped off.
Two hours after the murder, Point Fortin police set up roadblocks at the Dunlop Roundabout.

Sookdeo’s mother Pinky and his wife Doll sat on a chair sobbing as police conducted investigations. Pinky was too distraught to speak with the media. Gazing into the poultry shop, where her son’s body lay, Pinky cried: “Let me see my son. He is my pet and my life. Give me back my son.” Police said last night that they were also investigating a theory that Sookdeo’s death was a case of mistaken identity. Several sources at the scene said they had information that a hit was placed on someone who worked at another poultry shop close-by. “The Sookdeo family is good, hardworking and decent people, so those killers came for the wrong man,” a source said.
An autopsy is expected to be done on Sookdeo’s body today.
Supt Phillip, Insp Pardassie, Sgt Ramphal and Cpl Sookraj of the Point Fortin police station are investigating.