A wrecker operator was left battling for his life after a shooting that police believe was related to his line of work. Police are working with the theory that a hit was put out on the life of Brian Baptiste, 32, because he wrecked vehicles for the San Fernando City Corporation. Baptiste worked at Rishi’s Wrecking Service, Marabella. Investigators said his armed attacker knew what time he would usually get to work and waited a few houses away from his Second Street workplace until he arrived.
A report stated that around 7.20 am, Baptiste of Egret Street, Couva, had just walked into the yard and was talking to Videsh Jaipaul, the owner’s brother. As he walked toward the tow truck, the gunman trailed him and shot him on the head, neck and chest before casually walking onto First Street, where he escaped. Jaipaul ran to the back of the house while family members called police and an ambulance.
San Fernando police went to the house where Baptiste was being assisted by a nurse who lives nearby. He was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital, where doctors were working to save his life. Police received video footage from CCTV cameras on the property and are hopeful of an arrest soon.
Baptiste’s shooting came five months after another wrecker operator, Vishnu Chablal was shot dead at his Gasparillo home. Although there were various theories as to why he was killed, Chablal had previously worked alongside the San Fernando Municipal Police. Rishi Jaipaul, the owner of the wrecking service, said people would threaten operators often because of their job. His father Vishnu said disgruntled motorists have even come to their home, complaining about vehicles that were wrecked.
“It is a dangerous job,” Vishnu said, standing outside his home. “Do you know how many people come here and threaten those boys? Just recently I had to put out a man who came here to get on for a vehicle that was wrecked on Mucarapo Street some weeks ago. It was an older guy that I knew, so I had some respect for him, but I had to throw him out.”
While there are security features at the compound, including cameras and automatic gates, he said the gunman came on a mission, which was executed. Police said wrecker operators do not determine which vehicles are impounded and that it was the municipal police’s job.
