It has been almost two months since gold dealer Ricardo Fagundes was gunned down just after he exited the Palm Court bar on Main Street, Georgetown and to date it remains unclear whether the police are any closer to solving the crime.
About three weeks ago, sources had told Stabroek News that investigators are pursuing a second suspect. The individual is said to be known to the police. In April, the police had held murder convict Rondell Bacchus in relation to the killing but later released him.
Since then, there has been no further word on how the investigation is progressing and whether the police are making headway or not.
As such, questions still linger about a number of aspects of the investigation.
This includes whether the police were able to ascertain the identity of Fagundes’ alleged shooters from the footage obtained and if they were able to determine the origin of the AK-47 assault rifle which was used in the shooting.
In terms of the suspected getaway car, it is unclear whether investigators were able to determine if the vehicle found burnt at Swan Village on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, hours after the shooting was the same used in the crime.
As it relates to forensic work, the findings of ballistic tests from the spent shells and bullets recovered from the body remain unknown.
Fagundes, also known as ‘Paper Shorts’, 42, a resident of Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, was riddled with bullets by two men outside of the Palm Court around 10 pm on Sunday, March 21.
According to the police, Fagundes was having drinks with a colleague in Palm Court when he received a call on his cell phone.
Shortly after exiting Palm Court, the police said several loud explosions were heard. Fagundes was later found lying in a pool of blood on the road. His body bore several gunshot wounds.
An autopsy later showed that Fagundes was shot about 20 times about his body.
Sources had told Stabroek News that the police recovered 30 rounds at the scene. Sixteen were from an AK-47 rifle while the other fourteen were from a 9mm gun.
During a speech at Fagundes’ funeral service, convicted drug trafficker Roger Khan said that he was the real target of the shooting. Khan had also been at Palm Court at the time.
Khan appealed to President Irfaan Ali for a “clean and impartial” investigation.
“Mr President, we are asking you, I am asking you on behalf of the family of Ricardo, to give this investigation the very same attention that you gave the Henry boys. Ricardo’s life is no less important than any other life in Guyana. We are asking for the political will, we are asking for the resources, that this investigation be handled by impartial investigators,” he pleaded.
He said the family will not rest until they receive justice.
“…The hearts of men bleed for justice. It is a natural, God-given, inalienable thing that God gives man, to try for justice and this act here, this injustice, if the police do not investigate this crime and follow the evidence rather than follow the money or any kind of corrupt motive, the hearts of men will become enraged,” Khan stated.
Responding to Khan, the police in a statement had said that they are pursuing all leads to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
