[UPDATED] Relatives of murdered man: He was ambushed

The relatives of Romanno Fernandez, who was shot during a robbery at a friend’s house, believe he was set up and are calling on police to find his killers.

Fernandez, 32, was killed by bandits who tried to rob him of his gold chain as he visited a friend’s house in Bon Adventure Road, Cunupia, on Wednesday night.

Police said one of the bandits was armed with a Taser and the other with a gun.

They ordered him to hand over a gold chain but Fernandez said he did not have it. The bandits shocked him with the Taser and shot him five times.

A 74-year-old neighbour heard the gunshots and looked out of her window to see what was happening. One of the bandits saw her and fired several shots, wounded her twice in the right hand.

Police said Fernandez drove to the Cunupia Police Station, where he made a report, and was taken to the Chaguanas District Medical Facility, where he died less than an hour later.

The neighbour was also treated at the hospital.

Speaking with Newsday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Thursday, relatives said Fernandez, whose friend was in prison, would often visit his relatives and offer financial support. They suspect his killers knew he would visit the house when they struck.

“He visits the house every so often to make sure that they are doing okay. Since their relative is in prison, things have been difficult financially for them, so Romanno helps out and offers whatever support he can.

“It feels like an ambush, because the bandits knew where he would be and what time he would be there. He (Romanno) was in a room in the house and the bandits walked through the house and went straight to that room. How could they know where he was in the house unless it was a trap?” one relative asked.

Another relative said Fernandez often wore a gold chain when going out, but did not have it on him when he was attacked, as he had sent it to a jeweller to be cleaned.

She said despite repeated warnings to avoid wearing his gold chain, he continued to wear it and was confident he would not be robbed, as he was well-known in the neighbourhood. They also questioned how the bandits had access to a Taser, as it should only be available to police officers.

Relatives described Fernandez as a loving, kind man who would be missed for his lively personality and willingness to help others.

This story was originally published with the title "Man killed, neighbour wounded in Cunupia robbery" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A 32-year-old Cunupia man was shot and killed when he refused to hand over his gold chain to bandits on Wednesday night.

Police said Shane Fernandez, of Munroe Road, went to visit his friend at Bon Adventure Trace, Cunupia, at around 8 pm. Two bandits confronted him, one armed with a Taser and the other with a gun. They ordered him to hand over his chain.

Fernandez refused and one of the bandits shocked him with the Taser while the other shot him several times.

A 74-year-old neighbour heard the gunshots and looked out of her window to see what was happening. One of the bandits saw her and fired several shots at her, wounding her twice in the right hand.

Fernandez reportedly drove himself to the Cunupia Police Station. Police took him to the Chaguanas Health Facility, where he died while being treated less than an hour later.

The neighbour was also taken to the hospital, where she was treated.