RALPH BANWARIE
A woman fire officer was shot dead while on her way to a christening last night. Dead is Simone Ramsaroop, 47, of Rowland Avenue, Trincity.
Her common-law husband Kurland Thomas, 38, and Shyien Trancoso, 23 are currently warded in critical condition at hospital following the shooting incident.
According to report around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, Ramsaroop, a fire officer who was last attached to the Arima Fire Station, was driving her blue Nissan Versa registration number PDB 8941 along Jacob Coat, North Eastern Settlement, Sangre Grande to attend a christening when on reaching in the vicinity of Dudes Man Mini Mart, four men all dressed in dark clothing armed with firearms alighted from the darkness and several loud explosions like that of gunshots were heard.
Ramsaroop’s lifeless body was seen slumped on the driver's seat in blood while the two other occupants, Thomas and Trancoso exited the vehicle, ran and was subsequently assisted by a villager who conveyed them to the Sangre Grande Hospital.
Both men suffered gunshot wounds about their body and are listed as critical at the Sangre Grande Hospital.
Ag/Cpl Maharaj, PCs Singh and Samuel together with member of the Eastern Division Task Force under the supervision of Cpl Osauna responded and upon arrival they met the first responders PCs Martin and Maraj of the ERP.
They reported having responded to a report of loud explosions at Jacob Coat, North Eastern Settlement, Sangre Grande and on arrival they observed the lifeless body of a female slumped in the driver seat of PDB 8941 and an object resembling a firearm protruding from under her.
District Medical Officer Dr Nzedinma visited the scene and made a pronouncement.The body was removed by Quashie's Funeral Home.
Also visiting the scene was Sgt Ramoutar and a party of officers from Homicide Region II and SERU.
The scene was processed and several 5.56 and 9mm spent shells and one object resembling a firearm was also found in vehicle PDB 8941.
The vehicle was wrecked by Indoi's Wrecking Service to SERU.
Enquires continuing by Homicide Region 2.