Man accidentally shot dead by cousin

A Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) foreman was shot dead by his cousin while travelling in a car along the Lusignan, East Coast Deme-rara Public Road on Sunday night.

At about 11.15 pm, Permaul Rampersaud, 23, called “Rommel” of Lot 72, Agriculture Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara was travelling with his cousin and other relatives from a wedding reception when the incident occurred. According to police, Rampersaud’s cousin, a licensed firearm holder who was in the rear seat of the vehicle, was attempting to “clear” his gun when two rounds were discharged, hitting Rampersaud, who was seated at in the front passenger side of the car at the time.

Rampersaud, who would have been 24 next Monday, sustained wounds to his back and right arm and he waspronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The cousin and the driver, who is engaged to Rampersaud’s sister, are in custody assisting with the investigation, police said yesterday.

Permaul Rampersaud

Meanwhile, at Rampersaud’s home yesterday, his father Jaigobin Rampersaud said that his son’s death came as a shock to the family. The man said his son had only started working as a foreman at GuySuCo last year, after completing studies at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA).

His son, he added, was a jovial individual who got along with everyone. Several members of the extended family as well as friends gathered at the home yesterday to offer sympathy to the family.