RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Amid the mid-morning bustle, Sharaz Ageemoolar walked into an insurance company’s office in San Fernando and shot his ex-wife Anissa Rajgobin-Ageemoolar twice, before killing himself after eluding police having escaped from the scene of his crime.
Hours before committing suicide, Sharaz had hijacked a car outside the Cross Crossing Shopping Centre and killed an innocent bystander Rosario Ramdhan, a 24-year-old Springvale, Claxton Bay resident who desired to migrate from T&T with his girlfriend.
Last night, Sharaz was found dead at Arjoonsingh Drive, La Romain. He apparently committed suicide in the same car he stole.
The couple has two sons together, both in their 20s.
Rajbobin-Ageemoolar remains warded in a stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital.
Investigators said the tragedy started at 10 am, when Rajgobin-Ageemoolar, 47, went to General Accident Insurance at the Cross Crossing Shopping Centre to do business.
Police said her ex-husband followed her into the office and asked to speak to her outside. She refused, following which he fired two shots, hitting her in the chest.
He then fled outside and proceeded to enter a white Tiida owned by Kenton Moses, which was parked outside.
Ramdhan, who was related to Moses, was sitting in the back seat of the Tiida and saw Sharaz as he came running out of the office. Police said Moses was inside the insurance office and ran up to Sharaz and attempted to grab him. However, Sharaz opened fire, hitting Ramdhan instead.
Bleeding profusely, Ramdhan tried to escape and stumbled up the street to avoid more bullets. He collapsed face down on the road about 50 feet away and subsequently died.
A worker from the nearby NP Gas Station said four gunshots rang out, two inside and two outside.
“I just duck. I went in a place where I know bullets will not fly,” the worker said.
Still shaken, he added: “Nobody really safe out here anymore.”
Police were called in and found Rajgobin-Ageemoolar bleeding inside an office.
While the police processed the scene, Ramdhan’s girlfriend arrived, visibly distraught.
“Danny, oh gawd, Danny, what they do Danny,” she wept.
Two relatives tried to console her, but she then tried to get to his body, her eyes rolling with agony as she saw him covered up with a white sheet, surrounded by homicide police.
She was eventually lifted bodily and taken away.
Ramdhan’s father Ramnarine Ramdhan arrived shortly after and spoke with the police, hoping to get answers about his son’s death.
Ramnarine told Guardian Media his son was ambitious and had plans to migrate from T&T with his girlfriend. However, he said he was not successful in obtaining a visa. He described his son as quiet and cool.
“Just last night he came by me and lime. He lived with his mother in Springvale. I live in Couva. Anything he asked for as long as I could afford I would give him,” the distraught father said.
Ramnarine works at Massy Energies and said his son often helped him at work.
Police said Sharaz lived in La Romain with his two sons while his ex-wife lived in Aripero. Police believe the shooting was premeditated.
Officers retrieved two spent shells fired from a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and three projectiles.
Supt Sean Dhilpaul, ASP Steve Persad, ASP Ramdath Phillip, Insp Roland Ramlogan, Insp Dirk John and other officers of the Homicide Bureau Regional Three are conducting investigations.
Chamber concerned about crime
Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce president Kiran Singh says yesterday’s incident at the Cross Crossing Shopping Centre highlights the escalating crime problem.
“We cannot condone the evil actions of certain people. The murder rate is so high. Is it that people have no respect for the law? No respect for elders or people going about their business legally? It is frightening that this could happen in a business place where people go to do official business,” Singh said.
He added: “This is not the way to solve issues between people if they have disputes.”
He explained that whenever crime increases, there is a decrease in investor confidence.
“High crime creates fear and causes people to say ‘why get into business if you will be targeted and robbed’?”
As T&T approaches Carnival, Singh said the Chamber looks forward to increased police patrols in the city, as well as additional vehicles for better protection of citizens.
