SUICIDE OUTSIDE CASINOBy ALEXANDER BRUZUAL Monday, October 5 2009
FORMER police officer Anand Rampersad was seated in the front passenger seat of his car talking with his wife yesterday afternoon when, according to reports, he suddenly pulled out a pistol and shot himself in the head. His wife was seated right next to him when he pulled the trigger and took his own life.
The tragic incident occurred at about 2 pm outside Rampersad’s workplace at Players on the Avenue, Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook. Rampersad, 48, of Cashew Gardens, Longdenville, Chaguanas, died at the scene.
Police said Rampersad, a security guard with Thor Security Services, reported to work at the casino about midday. At approximately 1:45 pm he was visited by his wife who was on her way to work. She parked the car directly outside the casino to drop off snacks for Rampersad and he sat in the car’s passenger seat while they had a short conversation.
Mrs Rampersad said she suddenly heard a loud explosion and when she looked over at her husband, he was slumped on the front seat with a gaping wound at the top of his skull. She told the police she did not see Rampersad put the gun to his head.
The police, who quicky arrived on the scene, said the bullet entered at the lower right side of Rampersad’s neck and exited the upper left side of his skull.
Rampersad’s body remained in the vehicle for close to two hours before a district medical officer arrived on the scene. Officers from the St James and Maraval police stations quickly cordoned off the scene.
Investigators who were tightlipped about the incident did not give a motive for the apparent suicide and the dead man’s relatives, who were seen giving statements to the police, did not talk to reporters.
There was heavy vehicular traffic along Ariapita Avenue as word of the incident spread, with curious motorists slowing down as they passed the scene to get a glimpse of the body. Some even parked and lined the pavement to get a better glimpse of the victim inside the car.
The body was eventually removed from the scene. An autopsy will be conducted at the Forensic Science Centre in St James today. Investigations into the incident are continuing.
Just hours earlier, another security guard was found hanging at his Upper Albert Lane, Belmont, home, in an apparent suicide. Police believe Corey Gordon, 28, took his own life because of a relation that went sour.
Investigations into that incident are continuing.
