A man who murdered his wife and two members of her family before turning the gun on himself had previously been charged with wounding and using threatening language against the same woman, police confirmed on Thursday.
Detectives from Police Regional Division 4B are investigating what they have described as an apparent murder-suicide and attempted murder, which took place at around 21:10 hrs on Wednesday at a residence on Ideal Road, Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
Dead are 25-year-old Maline LaCruz, her mother Waveney LaCruz, 50, and her younger sister, 16-year-old SueAnn LaCruz. A fourth victim, Maline’s brother, 23-year-old Seon LaCruz, is in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation after sustaining gunshot wounds to the shoulder and jaw.
According to police, the suspect – 35-year-old Parmanand Ramdial, the husband of Maline – was found dead inside the home with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A 9mm APX Beretta pistol with a live round in the breach and five more in the magazine was recovered near his body, along with a small uncorked bottle emitting a noxious odour.
Authorities say it is not yet clear whether Ramdial was licensed to possess the firearm.
The couple shared two young sons, aged three and four. Maline also had an eight-year-old son from a previous relationship. None of the children were physically harmed during the incident.
According to a witness and resident of Ideal Road, earlier that day, she had accompanied Maline, SueAnn, and the children to a creek outing along the Linden Highway. Later, while at Soesdyke Junction, Ramdial arrived on a motorcycle and the group returned to the LaCruz home. It was there that a heated argument reportedly broke out between Ramdehol and Maline, followed by multiple loud explosions.
The witness said she immediately fled the home with the children.
Upon arrival, officers from Timehri Police Station processed the scene and recovered seven spent shells, two warheads, and several metal fragments. The materials have since been lodged at the station for forensic analysis.
Emergency responders transported Ramdial and Seon LaCruz to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. While Ramdial was pronounced dead, Seon was stabilised and later transferred to the GPHC for emergency surgery.
The bodies of Maline, Waveney, and SueAnn were also taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where they were declared dead. They have since been moved to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home pending post-mortem examinations.
Police confirmed that earlier this year, on January 09, Ramdial had been charged with wounding and threatening Maline LaCruz. He was initially remanded to prison but was later released on bail. Coincidentally, the case was brought before the court again on the same day as the murders — 23 April — and adjourned.
The property remains under police guard as investigations continue.
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