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RIO CLARO maintenance contractor Sylvan Boodan was ambushed by a gunman who shot and killed him outside a business place in his community yesterday. Boodan, also known as “Lawa”, 58, was gunned down as he stood near his car in front of a contractor’s business place on San Pedro Road. Boodan, of Tabaquite Road, Rio Claro, was the owner and proprietor of Gloria Bar, located on the ground floor of his property, and also ran a small maintenance contracting company. Police said the bar was operated by his ex-wife and her children. Police said around 8.20 a.m. Boodan was seen speaking to a masked man dressed in a pair of white sneakers, a black jersey, a pair of blue track pants. He was standing in front of his car that was parked in the driveway of R Baldeosingh Services Ltd on San Pedro Road, where he had painting contracting jobs. Police were told that Boodan was seen opening the rear left door of his vehicle and showing a document to the man. The report said the man then pulled out a firearm and fired one shot, which struck Boodan in his head. As Boodan fell, the shooter ran off in a northern direction on San Pedro Road. Police officers responded and observed Boodan’s body with a gunshot wound to the left side of his head. Officers of the Rio Claro Police Station led by acting ASP Tang and detectives of the Homicide Bureau of Region Two led by Sgt Ramlogan visited the scene. When the Express visited the area yesterday, Boodan’s vehicle was being towed away to be taken to the Special Evidence Recovery Unit for forensic examination. His relatives left the crime scene after the body was removed by the undertakers and no one was at his house, nor at the business place. Fear and shock Residents along the San Pedro Road expressed sorrow over the killing of a man, whom they described as “a very good person”, who was well-loved in his community. They also expressed fear and shock over the brazen killing and did not wish to be identified when interviewed. One resident told the Express, “I saw the guy (gunman) walking. I did not know what he going to do, if he was going to look for a work or what. Then I heard one shot and he (Boodan) fall on the ground. The suspect run. I call my neighbour who is a police and he called the Rio Claro police. I feel real sad.” Another resident said he saw the killer running away from the scene and alerted the police officers who responded, but claimed that the officers did not follow up on what he saw. “I was passing and saw a man running down the road. He had on a blue track pants and black jersey and he mask up and thing, like a Covid mask. I knew the man was not from around there. I warned the neighbours that there was a stranger with something like a gun in his hand, and I told all the old people to lock their gates. When I drove further down I realised it was a murder scene and I saw a body on the ground. As the police reached, I told one of the investigators that I saw the man (killer) right down the road, but he told me ‘Go from here. We have to secure the scene,” said the resident. He said several minutes later, another police officer called out to him. “Then they (police officers) said they want a witness statement. I told them when I was trying to talk to allyuh you run me. The suspect wasn’t even in a car. They (police officers) might have catch him, who knows but they run me,” said the resident. Another resident said that Boodan was a lifelong resident of the community and was never in any trouble with the law. “He don’t get tied up in no foolishness. The man did not even drink alcohol. I never know him in any problems. Only thing he had a court matter, and that finished recently,” said the resident. Police said there was no motive as yet for the killing and detectives of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations of Region Two are continuing the investigation.
