Former prisons orderly Sheflan Rampersad promised to leave a life of crime after serving a jail sentence at Carrera Convict Prison two years ago for drug possession.
However, despite his attempts to live a crime-free life, Rampersad, 32, of St Johns Trace, Claxton Bay, was shot dead yesterday morning. Investigators said around 5.30 am they received news that a man was bleeding on the roadside close to a gas station at St Margaret’s Junction. When they arrived they saw Rampersad lying with multiple gunshots to his chest. He was taken to the Couva District hospital but was pronounced dead.
At the family’s home yesterday, Rampersad’s parents Samnarine Rampersad and Tara Susan Sookraj were inconsolable. Samnarine said his son lived with a friend and worked as a tradesman assistant since he left prison. “I knew he was doing drugs so I could not let him live in this house. He moved out but every holiday he would come home,” Samnarine said. While wishing his sister a happy new year, Samnarine said he got news that a body was seen on the junction. “I changed my clothes and went out the road and that was when I knew it was my son,” Samnarine said. Tara said during his incarceration at prison, Rampersad was made an orderly for good conduct. “When he came out of prison he told us he will change. He was a drug addict so when he do a hustle he would use his money to buy his drugs,” Sookraj added. She said she often spoke to Rampersad about quitting drugs. “I told him I would put out money for rehab but he has to want to do it or else it doesn’t make sense,” Sookraj added.
Officers of the San Fernando Homicide Bureau are continuing investigations.