(Trinidad Guardian) Relatives of businessman Earle Samsoondeen huddled in fear inside their home as some 20 gunshots rang out, unaware that he was under attack at their front gate.
Forty-year-old Samsoondeen was ambushed as he returned from work on Thursday night. He never made it out of his car.
Samsoondeen died at the San Fernando General Hospital around 11.57 pm.
His family believes he was the victim of a robbery. The father of two was the proprietor of Cyborg Clothing, located at SS Erin Road in Debe.
Samsoondeen left his business place around 11 pm in his silver Toyota Aqua and less than ten minutes later, his employee received a call that loud explosions were heard at his boss’ home. The employee left the business and headed to Samsoondeen’s home, where saw his car reverse-parked at the front gate and Samsoondeen seated in the driver’s seat but slumped across the passenger seat. He was bleeding from wounds to his body.
With the assistance of his co-worker, the employee took Samsoondeen out of the car, placed him in another vehicle and took him to the hospital.
Police retrieved the victim’s cellphone at the hospital and $4,500 from the car’s glove compartment.
Crime scene investigators found 20 spent 5.56 casings and one projectile at the scene.
At their home, Samsoodeen’s wife declined to speak with the media.
However, an 85-year-old relative recalled that they were asleep when they heard rapid gunfire. She said they did not know Samsoondeen was being attacked.
“We hear the gunshot and fraid to come out. The neighbour called out and said it was a shooting by us,” she said.
When they eventually came outside, she said they saw Samsoondeen’s bullet-riddled, bloodstained car.
They were told he was taken to the hospital.
“The police told us not to come out of the gate and to go back inside,” the relative said.
“We can’t sleep. We can’t eat.”
She said he started the business in 2020, and two years ago he was robbed.
“I believe it was a robbery. They took everything, the keys, everything gone,” she said, adding that they could have spared his life.
Lamenting the state of T&T she said, “There is too much crime in the country.”
Samsoondeen’s children are 14 and five years old.
Officers of the Homicide Bureau of Investigation Region 3 are investigating.