By Vishnu Bisram
A Guyanese father of three was fatally shot on Thursday afternoon in front of his Richmond Hill, New York house by a teenager from a nearby area.
An eyewitness said that Beni Jagdesh, 33, formerly of Number 60 Village, Corentye, Guyana, drove his grey BMW into his driveway on 103 Street (between Liberty and Rockaway Aves) in the greater Richmond Hill area, and proceeded to confront the teen, on why he was banging on his car in front of Jagdesh’s home. An argument ensued and the teen then pulled his illegal gun and fired two bullets into Jagdesh’s chest. Eighteen-year-old Wade Cameron has since been arrested and charged with the murder.
A family member said that shooter was angry about the way Jagdesh drove his car into the driveway close to him. The victim, who was returning from his barber shop nearby, decided to confront the shooter and an argument ensued. During the confrontation, Sham Jagnanan, Jagdesh’s brother-in-law, intervened and teen landed a punch on his face bursting his lip. Jagdesh then told the shooter to move on and he himself walked away across the street.
The shooter pursued him and pulled out his gun and opened fire.
Many residents observed the incident including a NYC building inspector who was inspecting a building right across the street.
The shooter left the scene but several individuals pursued him. He had his gun trigger cocked and ready to shoot again. But one eyewitness said, “the boys grabbed him and by that time police came and handcuffed him”.
Sham Jagnanan, who is married to Jagdesh’s sister and who was with Jagdesh as a passenger in the BMW, said the shooter “pulled out his gun and pumped two bullets into Jagdesh”.
Jagdesh and Jagnanan were returning from the barber to prepare for their flight to Atlanta to attend a funeral of a family member, also a Guyanese.
Jagnanan said Jagdesh, in his dying words, told him to take cover. “He used his last breath to warn me yelling ‘Sham, run! He shot me’”.
Jagdesh stumbled towards the back stairway of his house. He collapsed on the steps where his wife, Sonita Beni, rushed to comfort. He was taken by emergency ambulance to Jamaica hospital where he was pronounced dead.
His grieving widow, Sonita Beni, also from #60 Village, told reporters that when she went to her husband, he was trying to say something. She said she did not know why the irate gunman shot her husband.
The shooter, who also lives in the greater Richmond Hill area, was charged with murder and criminal possession of a gun. He is held without bail.
In addition to his wife, Jagdesh is survived by three daughters – Malena, 3, Melissa, 4, and Melonie, 8 – and mother Chandra and father Lall, and two sisters, Debbie and Diana, all from #60 Village.
“His kids were his life”, Sonita, 33, told reporters at their home.
Jagdesh was a self-employed welder. He migrated 15 years ago to NYC where he wed his wife.
A wake was held at the victim’s house on Thursday night. A viewing is scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday. He will be cremated according to Hindu rites on Monday morning when he would have celebrated his 34th birthday.
