Security Officer gets $1M bail for death of auto sale employee

Three months after the shooting to death of 18-year-old Jared Jagnandan, the security officer involved was on Thursday slapped with a manslaughter charge.
Deandrell Semple, 20, of Kingelly Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrates’ Court where the charge was read to him. Police stated that on March 21, 2024, he unlawfully killed Jagnandan at SMK Shaf Auto Sales, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
He was not required to plead to the indictment but was granted bail in the sum of $1 million. As a condition for bail, Semple was ordered to lodge his passport.
The matter was adjourned to July 8, 2024.
The charge was laid after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended that the security office be charged with manslaughter.
On May 21, Jared’s parents, Avalon and Reshma Jagnandan, voiced their frustration with the handling of the case by the Guyana Police Force in a public statement. Jared, a sales and marketing representative residing in Martyrs’ Ville, ECD, was shot and killed at his workplace.
The security guard involved in the shooting was employed by the auto company and was subsequently arrested following the incident.
According to the police report, the owner of Shaf Auto Sales stated that he and his wife returned to the store around 11:10h on the day in question after completing some business errands. They claimed that they found the suspect and Jared seated near the security officer’s desk and shortly after, they heard a loud bang from the store. Rushing out of his office, the businessman said he discovered Jared lying motionless on the floor, bleeding.
The security guard later informed them that Jared had been shot. He was taken to a private city hospital and succumbed to his injuries. His parents have since been advocating for a comprehensive investigation to seek justice for their son.