Security guard Don Doncon.
Photo: Rishi Ragoonath
By Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
A Maintenance Training Security (MTS) guard has been shot twice in the head at point-blank range with his own firearm by a gunman who attempted to relieve him of his weapon yesterday.
John Doncon, 39, of Indian Trail, Couva, succumbed to his injuries around midday while undergoing surgery at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH).
Doncon was on duty at the Housing Development Company (HDC) housing project at Flamingo Crescent, Couva, when the incident occurred.
Only last Friday, the father of three celebrated his 39th birthday with co-workers before leaving the job site.
According to a police report, around 10 am, Doncon, an employee with MTS for the past 14 years, was on patrol at the front of the site when a man walked up to him ordering him not to move.
The man, the report stated, whipped out a gun from his waist and whilst pointing it at Doncon, attempted to relieve him of his firearm.
A struggle ensued, the report stated, and the gunman dropped his gun on the ground.
Both men fell to ground and the gunman was able to get hold of Doncon’s firearm. He was shot twice in the head.
The gunman then fled the scene.
When Guardian visited the site yesterday, residents said they heard loud noises and upon investigating saw Doncon lying on the ground.
Workers telephoned the Emergency Health Services and Doncon was rushed to hospital.
Shocked over the killing, Doncon’s grief-stricken wife Ann-Marie, who is also a MTS security guard, said she was at her job at the Technical Institute at Tarouba, when she learnt of the shooting incident.
Wiping tears from her eyes, Ann-Marie said: “I have no idea what happened. One of Don’s co-workers telephoned me and told me he got shot, but he did not know how serious.”
Ann-Marie said she rushed to the hospital to be at her husband’s bed side, but instead was told that he had died.
The doctors gave me a plastic bag with his uniform and the shoes he was wearing. This is too much for me to bear,” Ann-Marie cried.
An autopsy is expected to be conducted today .
