killed for her gun

SANDRA GOMEZ

By Gizelle morris

Even though Sandra Gomez worked many late nights at her job as a security guard, relatives never expected her to die by the hands of bandits.

An estate constable with Telecom (Security) Systems, Gomez was yesterday shot in the chest and at point-blank range in the head, after bandits stabbed her and seized her service revolver.

She died minutes after arriving at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

Gomez, 34, of Concorde Road, San Juan, was shot while on duty at the Lever Brothers warehouse in Champs Fleurs.

Police said powdered soap and raw materials for its production are stored in the warehouse which was open to receive stocks. The doors are usually kept closed.

“The thing is they did not hold anybody. They probably don’t even know who did it!” Gomez’s younger sister Catherine cried bitterly.

According to police reports, around 10.05 am, Gomez, a single parent, was at her desk next to the open door of the warehouse when two men walked in and attempted to steal her firearm.

She resisted and was stabbed then shot with the gun they took from her.

A piercing scream and two gunshots alerted nearby employees of Laughlin & De Gannes to the drama unfolding.

One employee said after the second shot was fired, Gomez slumped over her desk and managed to raise her body before falling backwards onto the floor.

He said her assailants then ran towards the Champ Fleurs hills and disappeared.

However, in their haste to escape the men dropped a cellular phone about 100 yards from where Gomez lay bleeding, he said.

When the men left, a janitor from Laughlin & De Gannes ran to assist Gomez who was bleeding profusely from the chest and head, vomiting blood and gasping for breath.
Managing director of Telecom Security, Derek Chin said: “I don’t know what we can do. Here was an officer doing her job and someone shoots her just to take her weapon.”
Chin visited Gomez’ grieving relatives and said his company is now arranging assistance for her 13-year-old daughter Malarie.

He said security firms need to work closely with police to tackle “this unprecedented wave of crime”.

Owners of security firms are to meet with the Commissioner of Police tomorrow.
In a press release, Lever Brothers West Indies Ltd expressed regret that the incident occurred.

ACP of Crime Frank Diaz, Senior Supt James Philbert, Insp John Grant, Insp Edwards and Sgt Don Lezama along with officers from the Crime Suppression Unit visited the scene.

An autopsy is to be performed today.