SUICIDE UPDATE: Teen’s father failed to properly secure guns at home; had no safe
The father of the 15-year-old who shot himself dead this afternoon at Agriculture Road, did not have any proper safe-keeping mechanisms at his home to store his licensed firearms, namely a 12-gauge shotgun and his Glock 17 pistol. This was confirmed by police sources, who stated that the man’s house did not have a safe.
A police statement confirmed that Roopnarine Singh, who is employed by the Guyana Revenue Authority as an enforcement officer, left his home for work early Wednesday morning with his gun being left on top of a built-in closet in his room.
Later in the afternoon just before the shooting, a younger child of Roopnarine Singh indicated to the police in her statement that she saw her brother taking the gun out of a haversack.
Just after 14:00hrs on Wednesday, 15-year-old Ahren Singh, a student, who resides at Lot 55 Agriculture Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, took his own life after leaving a note with his sister.
She told police that shortly after being given the note she heard a gunshot and raced downstairs to inform the babysitter, who was present at the house when the incident took place.
The police indicated in their statement Wednesday evening that one gunshot wound was seen to the right side temple of the fifteen-year-old, one exit wound to the left side temple, one warhead and spent shell found in the room, and the victim lying face down on a bed. A round was also found in the breech of the gun which was located next to the body.
In the suicide note which the teen left behind, he reportedly apologised to the family, and said that he was sorry for what he was about to do and knew that he was leaving them in a lot of pain.
The hands of the fifteen-year-old, his father, mother and the babysitter were all swabbed for gunpowder residue.
In addition to the weapon which was used in the alleged suicide, the police also took possession of the father’s 12-gauge shotgun.
