Guardian ( Trinidad and Tobago )
12 August 2023 ( Page 9 )
Husband fatally shot protecting wife during home invasion
By Rhondor Dowlat
Central Bank employee Darren Nandlal is being
hailed a hero, as he sacrificed his life for his wife,
an attorney, after gunmen stormed into his inlaws’ home at Carapichaima on Thursday night
asking specifically for his spouse.
According to a police report, at about 7.10 pm,
two masked men, one armed with a gun, broke
into the house of the attorney’s 80-year-old
relative and demanded that he tell them where
she was.
The men then went to the upstairs area of the
house, where they attempted to go into the
bedroom where Nandlal and his wife were in at
the time.
The woman, police said, on seeing the men, ran
to her husband, who shielded her from them and
as the gunmen attempted to enter the room,
Nandlal pushed the door towards them,
prompting one of the gunmen to fire a single
shot.
The bullet, police said, fatally struck Nandlal in
the head. The men then ran out of the house and
escaped.
Nandlal, 32, was a financial examiner at the
Central Bank of T&T in Port-of-Spain.
His wife was said to be very traumatised by the
incident, inconsolable and in a state of shock.
Police said nothing was taken from the house and
therefore, they believe that the motive was a
“hit.”
Upon news of Nandlal’s coldblooded murder, his
friends took to social media where they extended
condolences and described him as a “cool and
humble” individual.
One friend, Chantelle L, wrote: “This is a hard
loss. They took a true angel from us.”
Another, Kerry Christopher Manohar, wrote: “I
can’t believe this one. One of the coolest, most
down-to-earth fellas I know ... You in a better
place than here now bro ... have a peaceful
transition Darren Diego Nandlal.”
When Guardian Media visited the area yesterday,
neighbours said they were shocked and shaken
by fright, since the area, which is usually crime
free, is now being “overtaken by criminals”.
“In the past weeks, with this killing here, there
have been two murders. Not only that, people are
being followed to their respective homes and
robbed and beaten. Crime has just suddenly gone
up in the area and it seems like there is no police
around to protect us. Whenever we call the
police, they are either not answering or they say
they are coming and they never arrive,” one
resident who did not want to be named said.
“We want the head of the police to come into the
area and hold a community meeting and listen to
our concerns and see our growing fears for
themselves. Crime out-ahand and nobody cares
about the people in the community.”
Another elderly woman, who lives close to where
Nandlal was killed, said the incident had left her
very shaken.
“It frightening. Right there it happened and I live
right here.
This thing is getting bad. I still shaking from last
night (Thursday).”
A businessman from Chase Village, who also
wished not to be identified, said he was allegedly
followed to his home.
“If I wasn’t vigilant they might have robbed me.
One night before, they came and killed all my
dogs. Too many home invasions, too many
robberies and now too many killings. Where is
the police? What is being done to protect and
serve the communities and people who live here?
There are real elderly people and children. People
work too hard to achieve their homes, cars and
other things and then criminals coming in and
wreaking havoc in the place.”
Investigations are continuing.
Photo - Darren Nandal