BY FRANCIS JOSEPH
Over the past eight years, four members of the Bissoon family have died by the gun. The latest occurred on Thursday evening when Amar Bissoon was shot and killed.
According to police reports, Amar, 20, was sitting on the pavement at Samaroo Avenue, Dookiesingh Street Extension, St Augustine, with his girlfriend, Maya Pooran, selling coconut when a white car pulled up.
One man alighted from that vehicle and opened fire. Amar was struck several times. Pooran was unhurt. Residents reported hearing a barrage of gunfire before discovering Amar lying on the ground. A report was made to the police and Amar was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope, where he died at 6.40 pm.
Homicide Bureau Officers and Crime Scene Investigators visited the scene and conducted inquiries. No arrests have been made.
On May 25, 2018, Amar’s father Amarnath Bissoon, 39, was killed during an alleged home invasion. Sometime later, three men, including a member of the Special Reserve Police officer were charged with his murder. That matter is still pending.
On December 30, 2023, Amar’s uncle, Anand ‘Fly’ Bissoon, was killed in a double homicide at a residence on Benny Lane, St Augustine. Another person, Shane Ramjitsingh, was also killed. One person was arrested.
On August 11, 2024, Amar’s 16-year-old brother, Amir ‘Pa’ Bissoon, was killed during a police operation near the Caroni Cremation Site. Police alleged that Amir was a member of the Resistance Gang and was wanted in connection with several shootings and extortion-related offences before the fatal confrontation.
At that time, the Police said they received a report of a car with occupants carrying guns and subsequently came upon a white Nissan Almera speeding along the road. Officers said when they attempted to stop the car, the driver rammed the police vehicle and two gunshots were heard.
The car ran off the road and two other gunshots were heard before police returned fire, hitting the three occupants.
The trio, who were pronounced dead at the Eric Willaims Medical Sciences Complex around 5.14 am, were identified as Amir “Pa” Bissoon, 16, Jaya Jodi Barath, 21, both of Samaroo Lane, Dookiesingh Street Extension, St Augustine, and Joseph Ramjit, of Kalpoo Street, Spring Village.
Police claim they were affiliated with the Resistance Gang, who were the masterminds behind extortion rackets in central and north Trinidad. They said a black pistol was recovered from the car in which they were travelling.
