Terror gripped the closely knitted Soesdyke-Linden highway village of Ideal on Wednesday night as a man went on a shooting rampage at the home of his estranged wife, shooting the woman dead along with her mother and sister, and also injuring her brother.
The incident took place just after 9:30pm in the small village.
The dead persons have been identified as Maline LaCruz, her mother, Waveny LaCruz, her sister Sueann LaCruz and brother, Ceon LaCruz. They were all shot at close range by Maline’s husband, Ramzan Ramdial.
Neighbours said the man was seen approaching the house on a motorcycle and moments later loud explosions were heard. One neighbour said two young children ran out of the house screaming that their mother was dead, forcing neighbours and other persons nearby to rush into the house.
In the house, they said they came face to face with the bloodied carnage and contacted the Police immediately. The bodies of the three women laid motionless as the seven young children in the house could be heard screaming and the injured brother was rushed to the hospital.
The suspect was also spotted at the scene motionless, but he bore no gunshot wounds. It is suspected that he might have ingested a poisonous substance. Persons in the area said he was taken away by the Police.
As the sun rose over the village early this morning, an eerie silence remained as the crime scene tape remained positioned around the house. The house was locked up this morning, with the slippers of the traumatized children still at the front door and some laundry remained on an outdoor line.
One neighbour told News Source this morning that she simply cannot make sense of what took place. She said she heard about nine gunshots, which were quickly followed by the screams of the children.
There were about six children living in the house who witnessed the murderous rampage. Three of the children belonged to Maline LaCruz, while the others were her younger siblings.
The Ministry of Human Services through its Child Care and Protection Unit has already moved in and is offering assistance to the children.
The neighbour, who asked for her identity not to be made known, said the incident was more than shocking.
She said there was no argument before the gunshots were heard.
“I think the small children in the house witnessed everything in the family house there, where the incident took place, they witnessed the ordeal, everything they witnessed in there”, she said.
It is suspected that the incident might have been triggered by a Court matter that was heard earlier in the day. The details of that Court matter are unclear, but it is believed that threatening and abuse charges had been laid against the suspect, Ramzan Ramdial.
His wife, Maline LaCruz had reportedly ended their relationship over his threats and abuse. Police sources have told News Source that from appearances, the man shot his wife first before opening fire on his in-laws.
17-year-old, Sueann LaCruz was the youngest of the three women killed. She was also shot at close range and died on the spot. Her father, Wayne Liu, lives nearby. He said he was at home when he heard the gunfire and rushed across to the house.
“I just hear some gunshots and people screaming and the neighbours ran out and said he killed all the women in the house. The kids jumped through the window for safety”, he recalled.
He said said he did not know the suspect too well, only that he was married to the eldest daughter of his ex-reputed wife.
Police investigators were back at the scene this morning, keeping a close watch, as neighbours peeked from behind their curtains, and others went about their daily routine of preparing for work and sweeping their yards.
Persons in the area appeared completely distressed over the triple murder, as the investigations continue.
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