by Curlan Campbell
- Randall Hector, 43, ambushed and shot on 31 December 2024
- Hector spoke about Trinidad’s state of emergency at his church
- Family in Grenada and Trinidad trying to come to terms with Hector’s tragic death
A relative in Grenada remembers slain Trinidadian attorney Randall Hector, 43, as a dedicated family man who exemplified high integrity in his role as special prosecutor for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Former senior building inspector at the Physical Planning Unit Lawrence Lalgie, Hector’s cousin, said the entire family in Grenada and Trinidad is still trying to come to terms with this tragic, untimely death. “Randall, as we know, he was a very accomplished lawyer, and he’s one that you know, is a man that took his job very seriously, and he always wanted to protect the rights of his people and always wanted justice for his people. He’s a man that displayed a high level of integrity, and you know he’s well-loved by so many,” Lalgie said.
Hector, before receiving fatal gunshot wounds on the night of 31 December 2024, had just given testimony about the state of emergency in the country and the need for God’s protection at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, where he attended with his family.
Around 7:30 pm on Stanmore Avenue in Port of Spain, as he and his family were walking toward their vehicle, they were ambushed by a black SUV and a Nissan B15 car that pulled alongside and opened fire. Hector was reportedly shot twice in the chest; fortunately, his wife and children were not injured.
“The entire family is grieving his loss, and I can only pray that God will give us the strength to go through that period of grief. Randall is the son of my first cousin, who is the daughter of my mother’s twin sister. And although they were born and grew up in Trinidad, we were very close,” Lalgie said.
As 2024 ended, this latest tragedy raised the murder count to 624, occurring during a state of emergency declared by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in response to potential gang retaliation.
Lalgie spoke about the close-knit nature of the family and how this loss will affect them. “Although they were born and grew up in Trinidad, we were very close. We used to visit each other often. Sometimes I would go to Trinidad, and other times they would come to Grenada. We were all, you know, tightly bonded,” Lalgie said. “I know the entire family is deeply saddened by this tragedy, especially his immediate family his mom and dad, his sister, his wife, and 2 children. We pray that God will continue to keep and strengthen them as we all navigate this difficult time together.”
Lalgie believed that if a curfew had been instituted in Trinidad and Tobago, his cousin would still be alive today. “Regarding the state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago, I don’t understand why they didn’t implement the curfew. If it had been in place, I believe my cousin would have been alive today. Nonetheless, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has not yet provided any information regarding the shooting.”
Lalgie indicated that the family is awaiting the outcome of the police investigation. “They can only hope that the process speeds up and that justice will be served. It is their hope that the perpetrators will be caught and brought to justice. The family would also like to express their gratitude to everyone who has offered their sympathy. They will remain strong and hopeful that everything will turn out well.”
Hector’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday, 9 January at the University of the Southern Caribbean.
Such a terrible terrible thing to happen..i feel it for his family especially his mother. I pray that God will comfort the family and intervene in these senseless killings