Sanjay Persaud, the city peddler who was shot during a robbery on Monday night, died early yesterday morning in the Georgetown Public Hospital and grieving relatives are calling for the killers to be brought to justice.
Persaud, called ‘Father,’ 40, of Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, was hard-working and did not deserve to die in that way, relatives lamented. Persaud died at around 6:30am yesterday in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.
Relatives said that a doctor told them that he had required 13 units of blood but did not get it. Persaud was shot during a robbery at around 9:30pm on Monday at Regent and Bourda streets, near the Bourda Market.
Police said in a statement that they are investigating the incident.
The statement said that Persaud was attacked and robbed by three men, two of whom were armed with handguns. The police said that investigations revealed that Persaud and a group of friends were standing at Regent and Bourda streets, when they were approached by the suspects. “During this, one of them drew a firearm and discharged two rounds into the air, while another also pulled out a firearm and shot Persaud in his abdomen. The third perpetrator snatched Sanjay Persaud’s gold chain from his neck, after which they escaped,” the statement said.
Persaud had been shot in the lower abdomen and had been in a critical condition.
Relatives said that gold jewellery, $375 000 in cash and his Blackberry cellular phone were taken from him.
Persaud was a well-known peddler and at the time of the incident he was in the company of a group of youngsters who ply the same trade.
Persaud’s brother, Rajin, said yesterday that although his brother’s friends had tried to stop taxis to take him to the hospital, they refused and it was not until the police arrived that he was taken to the hospital.
He called on the law enforcement officials to take swift action and bring the perpetrators to justice. He said that two gold bangles, a gold chain and a finger ring were among the jewellery taken. “He does do big business,” he said, pointing out that his brother also plied his trade in the gold-mining districts of Bartica and Mahdia. When he had left home on Monday, relatives said, Persaud had taken money as he was going to buy more stock.
They recalled that Persaud had been selling for years, since he was eight. “He actually grew up at the market,” one relative said.
On Monday night, Persaud’s friends had recounted the incident to this newspaper. “Is bare shots de licking…this is not no talk I talking yuh know, these men pull out guns and just start displaying on the road.
These men shoot like wild, but is only ‘Father’ really get target,” Seon Goodridge had recounted. Goodridge had said that he and Persaud are “hustlers” who work the streets everyday, walking and selling items.
Prior to the shooting, Goodridge recalled that the group was at Merriman’s Mall hanging out when one of the gunmen approached him over an old story. The man was alone at the time and was demanding money that Goodridge owed him. Goodridge said he made the payment and the man left.
The group then moved to the market to have a few more drinks when two men, one from earlier on the mall, approached them and asked for a light.
Goodridge said that the request seemed strange, but before anyone could respond the men pulled guns. “I see dese men pull out guns and right away I seh trouble deh hay… Next thing I know ‘Father’ on de ground bleeding. Is jus suh these men roll up on we and rob ‘Father,’ boy,” Goodridge added.
Stephon Phillips, another friend, said he tried to wrestle the gun from one of the men after the weapons were drawn but he was unsuccessful.
Phillips recalled that he initially panicked after the men flashed the guns, but within a few seconds he was fighting with one of them. Phillips recounted how he held firm on the man’s wrist and tried to knock the gun from his hands when rounds were discharged.
But as Phillips challenged the gunman the other one had the gun pointed at his friends, including Persaud. Phillips said he realized the man was stronger and decided against putting up a fight.
As soon as he released the gun, he said, the man turned it on Persaud and shot him. “I see this man just turn to ‘Father’ and shoot he…blam! I said is wha is dis and I just start ducking because was me next,” Phillips added.
A market constable who was alerted told this newspaper that he called the police after the young men rushed over to report what happened.
The police turned up promptly and transported the wounded Persaud to the hospital.
A number of Persaud’s friends had turned up at the hospital and they said that he was like a father to the youths that are also peddling in the city.
They said that he mentors many of young men working on the street. “All ah we does do business and hustle and suh, but ‘Father’ is the man who we does look up to and respect. This is a good brethren… a real alright man,” Goodridge said.
Persaud is survived by his mother, three brothers, three sisters and other relatives. A post-mortem examination is expected to be done today and the funeral is set for Saturday. Relatives said that he was “a very loving person” and urged that the police act quickly to bring his killer to justice.
