-family incensed
Two months after 18-year-old Jared Jagnandan was fatally shot at Shaf Auto Sales, Lusignan East Coast Demerara, the file is yet to be returned from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the family is incensed.
Head of the Guyana Police Force Corporate Communica-tions Unit, Mark Ramotar, in an update yesterday told reporters that the file is still with the DPP. In April this newspaper reported that the file had been returned to the DPP.
The distraught parents of Jagnandan in a press release expressed dissatisfaction in the way in which the matter is being dealt with by the relevant authorities. They continue to demand answers from the police over the circumstances of the death of their son as the security guard is yet to be charged.
“At this time, some two months after our son was killed, no charge has been laid. The police have suggested that the file has gone to the DPP’s office for advice. Our attorney told us that it does not ordinarily take this long for a matter to be investigated and advised upon. We, Avalon and Reshma Jagnandan, feel we have no choice but to address the public on something that has halted our life as we knew it and the only way we can hope to get back to some semblance of normalcy is if we can get justice.”
The press release stated that the armed security guard attached to a private security service, Cerberus Security Inc, unlawfully shot and killed their son, Jared Jagnandan. The 18-year-old was at the time employed at Shaf Auto Sales Inc. as a marketing and sales representative. The parents contended that the security service permitted the guard to possess the loaded firearm without a licence or permit.
“It has been disclosed that the security service negligently and recklessly permitted the guard to possess the loaded firearm knowing that he had no license or permit to do so. It has also been disclosed that the security service has not cooperated with the police by providing certain records that they are legally required to maintain. It does not make sense that the police force is not able to compel cooperation,” the release contended.
The terms and conditions of acquiring a firearm licence were questioned as they described it as recklessly and or negligently approving the company’s application to lawfully possess firearms to provide services to businesses and organisations.
“Even before a Security Firm can operate, they require the approval of the police force. Is it that this approval is given recklessly or negligently?”
The dead teen’s parents alleged in the press release that on the day of shooting incident at Shaf Auto Sales Inc, Jagnandan was neglected by the company and little to no assistance was rendered. Further, that the responsibility was shifted to the security company.
“Have the police done any investigations as to their potential criminal responsibility? Our son was shot on their premises which has many cars on it, being an auto sales, yet he was made to bleed out while awaiting a vehicle from the security service instead. These critical wasted moments could have saved our son’s life. We call upon the authorities to investigate Shaf Auto Sales.”
According to the press statement issued by Jagnandan’s parents, the police have not shared meaningful information in relation to documented evidence and the post mortem examination report. They opined that other matters are being treated with urgency compared to the investigation in relation to their son’s death.
“The police have not shared anything meaningful with us in terms of documentary evidence, not even the post mortem report. Just a short time ago, a father of four was stabbed to death, the police force in that matter rightly acted fast to begin the judicial process, indeed charges were laid and even a court hearing was scheduled a few days after the incident, the aggrieved family received the full cooperation of the police force. Two months after our son’s death we feel no further ahead, why is our matter being treated with differently? Why don’t we deserve justice?”
Civil proceedings are expected to be instituted in addition to police investigation as the parents are fearful that the matter would be swept under the rug.
“Our son Jared was 18 years old; he had his whole life ahead of him. He was a bright and affable young man, who lit up every room he walked in, this world is much less without him. If we cannot guarantee the sanctity of this principle, we have failed as a nation, our youths are the future of this One Guyana. We therefore call on the authorities for a full and transparent investigation, we call for justice.”
Initially, the guard who was a suspect in the matter, was arrested at Vigilance Police Station and the shotgun lodged along with five live cartridges and one spent shell. He is no longer in police custody.
The statement said that the incident involved a 20-year-old security officer attached to Cerberus Security Service, who was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, which is owned by the security company and which resulted in the death of Jared Jagnandan,
The statement said that enquiries disclosed that Shaf Auto Sales is owned by a 27-year-old who resides in Canada and the business is operated by his brother.
According to the statement, the businessman said that at about 11:08 am, he and his wife returned to the store after transacting business. At the time they met the security guard on duty and Jagnandan seated in a chair, a short distance away from the security officer’s desk.
The statement said that according to the businessman “he and his wife proceeded to his office and a few minutes later, they heard a loud explosion in the store”.
The businessman said he immediately exited his office and saw the teen lying motionless on the ground with blood about the lower section of his body.
The security officer then told him that the teen had been shot, according to the statement from the police.
Jagnandan was picked up in an unconscious state and placed in a motor car, which is owned by Cerberus Security Service and taken to Woodlands Hospital where he was seen and examined by a doctor and later succumbed.
The matter was reported to Vigilance Police Station at about 2.10 pm, the police stated.
Acting on the information received, the GPF said that they went to Woodlands Hospital where the body was examined and a gunshot wound was seen on the upper left leg.
