Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
Money, a family feud or something else? It’s not clear yet why businesswoman Veronica Allison De Leon was murdered, but police say it was well-planned and executed. De Leon, 43, a mother of four, was ambushed and shot dead shortly after 6 am yesterday as she left her home at Jinjul Street, Phillipine, near San Fernando.
CCTV footage of the incident showed De Leon trying to escape when she realised her life was in danger. Seconds after she drove off from her home in her Range Rover and slowed down at the end of her street, a white AD wagon came from the opposite direction and stopped in front her vehicle. An occupant armed with a gun came and ran towards her vehicle. De Leon reversed almost to her front gate, with the AD wagon and gunman chasing her. The wagon stopped alongside her van. The camera did not pick up the gunman, but seconds later, he ran back and entered the wagon which sped off.
There were bullet holes in the driver’s side window of DeLeon’s vehicle. She was shot multiple times and died at the scene.
De Leon and her late husband, Nestor, owned De Leon Bananas Ltd. He died from COVID-19 last January.
A close family friend said De Leon had complained about getting threats, but a police source said there was no record in their database that she had reported any threats.
Following her husband’s death, De Leon took to Facebook to vent her frustration.
In one of the posts, she wrote: “I wanna take this time to really post this. I’ve been trying to survive since my husband died. My kids and I have been through hell and back. All that has been done for my kids, is me.”
She posted that her husband’s relatives believed he left her with millions, but she said any claim for money had to go through her lawyers.
In another post, a relative of De Leon’s husband expressed unhappiness that they had not been able to partake in his wealth. The relative said they had no issue with her and hoped they could reach an agreement.
When Guardian Media visited De Leon’s home, relatives declined comment.
Contacted for comment, President of San Fernando Greater Area Chamber of Commerce Kiran Singh said the business community was shocked and alarmed at another murder in south Trinidad. He said based on the CCTV footage circulating on social media it is clear robbery was not the motive.
“We keep wondering where is the increased police patrols promised. This is a quiet community. She was leaving home to tend to her business,” he said.
Singh said he hoped the police would be able to use the footage to identify the criminals and arrest them.
