A 37-year-old security guard was shot dead by a masked gunman at Linda Supermarket on Sussex Street, Charlestown, yesterday afternoon, according to police reports.

Esan Rose, of Lot 11 Laing Avenue, was on duty at the supermarket at Lot 12 Sussex Street when he was attacked at around 3.05 pm. He was employed by CMC Security Service.

According to police reports, Rose was standing about five feet from the supermarket’s southern entrance when the gunman approached him. The suspect had arrived as the pillion rider on a red-and-white XR motorcycle, whose registration number is currently unknown.

After the suspect dismounted, the motorcycle rider left in an easterly direction along Sussex Street.

Police said the suspect, who was wearing a surgical mask and carrying a handgun, fired twice in Rose’s direction. One bullet struck the guard in the chest, causing him to collapse.

The gunman then ran from the supermarket, heading west along Sussex Street before turning north onto Charles Street.

Emergency medical personnel were summoned and Rose was pronounced dead by Dr Harikissoon of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Police said Rose’s service pistol was found on the ground beside him, with nine live 9mm rounds in its magazine. Investigators also recovered a .32 spent shell and two live .32 rounds from the scene. The firearms and ammunition were lodged.

The shooting was captured by the supermarket’s CCTV cameras and the footage was extracted. Police were also reviewing other cameras in the area and footage available through the Command Centre as they sought to locate the gunman, the motorcycle and its rider.

Several persons were questioned and Rose’s body was taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination.

Speaking to the media, Rose’s stepson, Daniel, said he was struggling to come to terms with the killing.

He described Rose as the household’s main breadwinner, who rose at 6 am each day, helped his wife with chores and took him to work before heading to his own job. His mother similarly assisted a younger brother.

Daniel said he and his sister, the eldest children, also tried to contribute, but it was his mother and Rose who principally supported the household.

“When he is working mommy will be home with the kids or she would go and do her lil fine contract with the government…” he said.

Rose’s wife, Velincia Rose, was inconsolable as she spoke about her husband’s death and the loss of the family’s main provider.

“I can’t believe he is gone, best he did stay home and I would go out and do me thing, now me bread winner gone, now I gah come back out on the road,” she said through tears.

She also expressed concern about the conditions under which he worked. She said he had been required on several occasions to deal with dissatisfied customers on his employers’ behalf and that she had urged him to obtain a bulletproof vest.

Police investigations are continuing.

Rose’s killing is the latest involving guards at supermarkets.