Behind the smile and charisma of nurse and beauty pageant contestant Sadna Gangoo lay the pain of a woman who was marked for death.
Gangoo was stalked and gunned down moments after she exited her workplace at the Princes Town District Health Facility yesterday afternoon.
The 44-year-old woman was shot in the head around 4 p.m. by a gunman who ambushed her as she was about to enter her vehicle parked near the health facility, where she had just finished her shift.
Shot dead: Sadna Gangoo
Gangoo, a mother of one and grandmother of two, fell on the road before she could enter her BMW car parked on Circular Road.
The shooter entered a Nissan Tiida waiting nearby, and it sped off along the Naparima Mayaro Road.
Her co-workers at the health centre, who rushed outside to her aid, were helpless as she died almost instantly.
Her relatives who reside close by arrived quickly on the scene and wept as crime scene investigators examined her body and took it away in a hearse.
Police investigators said that shortly after the killing, patrolling officers found what was possibly the shooter’s getaway car abandoned on Perry Young Road in Fairfield.
It was impounded and taken to the Special Evidence Recovery Unit in Cumuto for a forensic examination.
Just on Sunday, Gangoo was a delegate for Princes Town in the Mrs India Worldwide competition at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts.
A close relative, who did not wish to be named, told the media Gangoo had received death threats and had reported them to the police. The relative declined to give a detailed comment about the reports, as he said he feared for the safety of the family.
“This investigation has to be something different,” he said. Asked if the killing came as a shock, he replied, “Not really.”
Asked if reports were made to the police regarding threats against Gangoo, he replied, “Yes, there were reports made for this. There were investigations and things going on with this. There are a lot of things surrounding her.”
Gangoo resided on Mohammed Drive in Fairfield Estate, Princes Town, with her son and two grandchildren, and also owned a house in Glenroy Settlement in Princes Town.
Grief over husband’s death
Gangoo’s second husband, Kevin Gangoo, 32, died in September 2019, a week after he was involved in a road incident.
In a post on social media then, she wrote that on August 27 her husband was on his way home with relatives in a maxi-taxi when he fell out of the vehicle as he was attempting to close the door.
He was hospitalised for six days at the San Fernando General Hospital. Test results showed that he suffered brain trauma which led to his death.
Gangoo posted, “My husband and I were very close. I am having a very difficult time coping with this situation. I have faith that one day I will be with him again. It was a sudden death. It has been a hard struggle thus far even though people would say that as time goes by, it would get easier to cope.”
She previously worked at the San Fernando General Hospital and was transferred to the health facility in Princes Town following the death of her second husband.
Senior homicide detectives, including Senior Supt of Homicide Sean Dhilpaul, Assistant Supt Anil Maharaj and Superintendent Steve Persad, led investigators to the murder scene yesterday.
Also responding were officers of the Princes Town CID and Southern Division Task Force.
SWRHA expresses condolences
A media release yesterday from the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), which was Gangoo’s employer, expressed condolences to her family and friends.
The SWRHA also stated security measures were strengthened on the health facility’s compound.
“This incident is currently receiving the attention of law enforcement agencies, including the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
“Additionally, security protocols have been strengthened, while professional counselling support services made available to all employees affected by this tragic incident.
“The SWRHA continues to invite our valued patients and clients to contact our Customer Service Centre at 87-SWRHA (877-9742), for any matter in relation to healthcare,” the release stated.
The murder toll for the year so far stood at 277 up to last night. The toll at the same time last year was 278.
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Trinidadexpress.com – https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/nurse-stalked-gunned-down/article_92f52f48-342b-11ef-ab4d-b7e07e828627.html