By STACY MOORE Tuesday, October 27 2009

A HEATED argument between a senior policeman and his son, over his alcohol addiction ended in tragedy on Sunday evening when the officer shot dead his son at their Church Street, Kelly Village, Caroni home.

Police said that Kevin Ragoonanan, 30, was shot once in the face by his father and died on the spot. Police reported that at about 5.20 pm, Ragoonanan had an altercation with his 57-year-old father over the use of alcohol when Ragoonan allegedly picked up a length of two-by-four wood and threatened to beat his father who walked away.

Ragoonanan followed his father to a bedroom when a struggle ensued with the policeman grabbing his licensed firearm and shooting Ragoonanan during a struggle for the gun. When this reporter visited the house yesterday, no one came to the front door to answer calls. Neighbours, though reluctant at first, said the victim was “cool and calm” except when drunk. “He would tell you good morning and talk with you. But don’t be around him when he’s drunk, he was real trouble then,” a neighbour said. “When he was drunk he would curse loudly and threaten his father. You could hear them clearly as they quarrelled,” another resident said.

When this reporter tried a second time to call someone from the house for an interview, a man who claimed to be a relative of the deceased said: “The family would not be speaking to anyone.”

When further questioned about the incident, the relative who was clad in a black t-shirt reiterated: “It don’t bother us what is said in the media about what happened...we are not going to comment about anything, okay?”

This relative also refused to give a photograph of Ragoonanan and requested that no photographs be taken of the house. “This is private property and we need for that to be respected!” Ragoonanan was the father of two children and worked at a bag factory.

When contacted acting Deputy Police Commissioner Gilbert Reyes said Ragoonanan was still detained with investigations continuing. He added that investigators would soon check with acting Director of Public Persecutions Roger Gaspard for further instructions.’