A popular taxi driver who is believed to have been the victim of a hijacking was found dead at Penny Lane Street, South Ruimveldt early yesterday morning.
The body of Mohammed Rasool, 42, of 45 Third Street, Alberttown was discovered around 5:45 am with gunshot wounds to the left side of his back along with an injury to the back of his head. Up to press time last night the car HB 3222, a navy blue AT 192 had not been located.
Rasool formerly known as Trevor Munroe lived alone at his Alberttown residence and was last seen alive around 7 pm at the Ruimveldt mosque where he worshipped. He was a regular face at the Berbice car park but was well known around the downtown area.
Yesterday he was positively identified by his Muslim brothers who were alerted by the police when one of them telephoned him and the officer answered the cellular phone. Prior to identifying the body, reports had reached the Muslim community at the Ruimveldt mosque that a man was found dead clad in a blue Muslim-type gown, a pair of black pants, white vest and a pair of brown sandals.
Imam Khaleal Wahab told Stabroek News yesterday that Rasool was a peaceful, religious man who worshipped on a daily basis. He said Rasool often did out-of-town trips and pointed out that no matter where he was when the hour came for worship Rasool found a mosque and prayed.
“This news has shocked all of us and has brought us much grief for brother Rasool was devoted to the faith and he lived a peaceful life. He stood out as a person because he was so quiet and he went about his work in an admirable way. This is a difficult time for us”, Imam Wahab said.
He recalled that Rasool started driving a taxi two years ago after he purchased a car. He worked privately and would usually close off at around 9 pm. Before he had the car Rasool was a nut vendor and for years he walked around selling nuts.
Wahab recalled that recently Rasool spoke of two incidents where persons attempted to rob him but he managed to flee before being attacked. When pressed for more information on the incidents, he said, the incidents were isolated and that Rasool never really complained about anything. Wahab said the community to which Rasool belonged views the incident as a hijacking and murder based on the information they have received.
Rasool was said to be originally from Essequibo but for some ten years he had been residing in the city at Albertttown.
According to Wahab, Rasool’s relatives in Essequibo were contacted. Rasool had no children and he was also not married.
