Claxton Bay man held for scrap iron dealer's murder

Police have detained a 36-year-old Claxton Bay man in connection with the murder of scrap iron dealer Neil "Jacko" Bhagaloo.

The man is assisting police from the Southern Division and Homicide Bureau Region III with the investigations.

Bhagaloo was shot multiple times in the head at the family’s home at Teak Drive, Macaulay, in Claxton Bay, at about 8 pm on Thursday. The father of two was on bail for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.

Police from the Child Protection Unit charged him earlier this year and the matter is pending in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court.

Relatives told Newsday that about a week ago, Bhagaloo received death threats after finding a large amount of scrap iron. They believe that the death was linked to the find and reported the threats to police.

On the night of the killing, relatives said they saw gunmen in the yard and assumed they were police in plainclothes. Bhagaloo opened the front door but did not get a chance to step outside as the men began shooting. Neighbours heard more than ten gunshots and later found Bhagaloo’s body on the floor. No one else was hurt.

The killers ran through some nearby bush and left in a white van that was parked on the shoulder of the southbound lane of the Solomon Hochoy Highway.

Cpl Deo and PC Rahim are leading investigations.