Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
Clueless as to why 53-year-old Sylvan “Blackboy” Harripersad was fatally shot, his family lamented yesterday that they were fearful for their lives. Harripersad, a father of two, was asleep on his bed at his Ramcharan Trace, Penal, home around 2:55 am on Friday when he was shot dead. His 24-year-old son recalled that he was jolted from his sleep by the first gunshot. He heard his father scream once, followed by several other shots. While on the phone with the police, he called out to his father but got no response. He said other family members were at home, but they were not injured.
He said the intruder would have had no difficulty getting into his father’s bedroom because the door was not secured as their home was under renovation.
“Right now I am fearful. I don’t know if anybody will come back. I don’t know what is the purpose, who or why they come, but right now I am fearful,” he said.
He said robbery did not appear to be the motive, as nothing was stolen. A couple of hundred dollars remained on top of the wardrobe.
However, he said his father, who received a disability grant due to a heart condition, never mentioned being in trouble or fearful for his life.
Complaining about the crime situation, he said a curfew should have been implemented during the State of Emergency.
“Crime just keeps on getting worse. I don’t really see an end in sight.” Told that the police report stated that there were arguments and altercations at his home, he said his father would quarrel “in and out, but it won’t be for anything major.”
He said no resident in the immediate area was aware of his father being involved in any recent argument with anyone.
Police recovered three projectiles and six spent casings at the scene. Homicide Region 3 detectives believe that a dispute may have led to his murder, but investigations are continuing.
