(Trinidad Guardian) Homicide investigators are hoping that Shervon Narad Mohammed survives the life-threatening wounds he suffered on Tuesday night so he can help piece together his shooting and the tragic murder of his friend Joseph Narine.
Narine, 60, who retired from the Ministry of Works and Transport a few weeks ago, died after being shot at his Duff Road, Hardbargain home.
On Wednesday, friends and relatives gathered at Narine’s home trying to make sense of his killing. The pictures of Hindu deities and the deya he and Mohammed lit for prayer before they were killed remained intact inside a ransacked bedroom when Guardian Media visited. Narine’s brother, who lives next door, was contemplating how to clean his brother’s blood that stained the bedroom.
Reports stated that around 11.30 pm, Narine and Mohammed were sitting in the living room when the gunman stormed in and demanded cash and jewellery. He was given jewellery and cell phones but continued to search the wardrobe, drawers and cupboards for valuables. When he was done, he shot Narine in the head and chest. Mohammed, who ran off, was shot in his chest and back. He was able to run to Narine’s relatives and was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital, where he remained in a serious but stable condition yesterday.
Princes Town police and detectives from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three, including Insp Figaro and WPC Valdez, visited the scene. Searches were made for the suspect but up to late yesterday no one was held.
One of Narine’s brothers said when he went to the house Narine was dead.
“He (Mohammed) ran up the hill and told me my brother got shot. When I came down and touched him he was already dead. He said the bandit came for money and jewellery while they were watching TV. The had lit a deya and came downstairs to watch TV.”
Narine, who has one daughter living in the US, lived alone. Mohammed, who was described as a pundit in the making, would visit Narine daily and they would say their prayers together. However, relatives and neighbours said Narine was a quiet and private man, so they knew little about his relationship with Mohammed.
But the death was shocking as they said Narine was humble and never got into arguments, smoked, drank alcohol or hung out at bars.
“From home to work and back home,” a neighbour said outside Narine’s house.
His cousin, Pundit Roopnarine Maharaj, said the murder reminded him of the recent mass shooting in New Zealand, as he heard they were shot during prayers. Roopnarine said he heard the news on the radio at noon and people thought it was he who was killed. He decided to visit the house and it was only then he realised it was his cousin who was murdered.
“Whether it was a religious act or not, this is the level that this country has come to, which makes me really scared as a pundit or any priest where our security and our family stands in that hour of the night. Looking at the surroundings, Mr Narine could not have had anything much at home,” Maharaj said.
“This is where we are as citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. We are not safe, whether or not we’re spiritual leaders at home. This is a call for the Minister of National Security and the entire Government to take hold and if these are not important issues, then I don’t know what are important issues again.”
While robbery seemed the obvious motive, neighbours and investigators believe there was something more and that Narine’s murder was consequential. Neighbours said murders and robberies were not common in the community and Narine was not wealthy. Although he had just retired, relatives said public servants take a long time to get their gratuity so there was nothing to entice bandits.
