On Thursday 21st March 2024, 18-year-old Jagnandan was fatally shot at Shaf Auto Sales, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, allegedly by the security guard on duty. His family continues to make a plea for justice, and for those responsible for their son’s death to be held accountable. According to the family, accountability lies not only with the guard, who allegedly pulled the trigger, but also the company that “acted recklessly, negligently and criminally to put an illegal firearm in the hands of an individual that was never trained and licensed to hold a firearm in the first place.”
See Jagnandan’s parents full statement below:
We Avalon and Reshma Jagnandan feel compelled to provide an update regarding our son’s tragic death and our still ongoing struggle to achieve justice.
We last issued a statement to the public in May, 2024, that was two months after our son was killed.
On the 21st day of March, 2024 an armed security guard attached to a private security service owned by Cerberus Security Inc. unlawfully shot and killed our dear son, Jared Jagnandan. At the time, he was employed at S.M.K Shaf Auto Sales & Spares as a marketing and sales representative.
Since the time of our first press release, the state has instituted charges against the security guard, Deandrell Semple, responsible for discharging the weapon resulting in our son’s death. While we are pleased with this progress, justice involves holding all parties accountable.
What about the company that acted recklessly, negligently and criminally to put an illegal firearm in the hands of an individual that was never trained and licensed to hold a firearm in the first place?
To date no charges have been instituted against the directors of Cerberus Security Inc., who are Khalid Ghanie, Mohamed Yussuf Ghanie and Maryam Haneezah Hack, despite clear breaches of the Private Security Act, and despite the legislature designing specific laws aimed at holding private security firms accountable, recognizing that their operation of firearms poses an increased risk to the public.
It has now been more than 8 months since our son’s death, no investigatory process should take so long, especially for a matter so straight forward as breaches of the Private Security Act. From the moment that the police force determines that licenses are not in place, Cerberus Security Inc. is immediately in breach of the Act.
It is also strange that it has only recently been revealed by the police that at the time of Jared’s shooting; Cerberus Security Inc. did not have a license for 2024 for the shotgun that was used to kill our son, and that Cerberus Security Inc. was also not licensed to operate as a Security firm for the year 2024.
Why was this not brought out in initial investigations by the police at Vigilance and Cove & John? We feel as though had we not pushed so hard for a special investigation into Cerberus Security Inc. their gross negligence would to date remain undiscovered.
Why must we continue to beg for justice as if we are requesting something to which we are not entitled?
If directors of Cerberus Security Inc. are never charged, tragic incidents like this will continue to take place.
To date we also have not been able to see footage of our son’s death which was captured by cctv cameras. Despite numerous requests from our attorney to the police force and assurances that this footage would not be used for anything more than the institution of civil proceedings, the police have flatly refused to cooperate.
And what if any investigations have been conducted on S.M.K Shaf Auto Sales & Spares and owners/operators Shafeer Mohamed Khan and Sameer Mohamed Khan? Has it been determined that they bear no criminal culpability without such investigations?
In our continued efforts for justice for our son, we are treated disdainfully, as if we ask for something we are not entitled to.
Are we supposed to say nothing? What can we do but speak to the public?
If our son was alive, he would have celebrated his 19th Birthday today November 25, 2024. Happy Heavenly Birthday Jared. Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measures. We love you son, continue to Sleep in Peace.
Please join us as we pray for Justice for our Son.
November 25, 2024.
