The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised that the security guard involved in the shooting at Shaf Auto Sales, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, that resulted in the death of 18-year-old Jared Jagnandan on March 21, be charged with manslaughter at the earliest opportunity, Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum stated yesterday.
This response came after the file concerning the investigation was returned to DPP recently after further investigation was done in the matter.
On May 21, the distraught parents of Jagnandan in a press release expressed dissatisfaction about the way in which the matter was 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 at the time, the security guard had not been charged.
A police release on the shooting had said that enquiries revealed 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 while Jagnandan was seated in a chair, a short distance away from the security officer’s desk.
The statement had 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.
Jagnandan was picked up in an unconscious state and placed in a car owned by Cerberus Security Service and taken to Woodlands Hospital where he later succumbed.
The matter was reported to Vigilance Police Station at about 2.10 pm.
Acting on the information received, police attended the Woodlands Hospital where the body was examined and a gunshot wound was seen on the upper left leg.
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 was later released from police custody.
