Roger Khan: ‘Ricardo’s bullets were meant for me’

Shaheed Roger Khan, on Monday, said that the execution of his “son”, 42-year-old Ricardo Fagundes, called “Paper Shorts,” was an attack on his home and his family, noting that the bullets for meant for him [Khan].

At the funeral service held at the GMR&SC, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, Khan made it clear that Fagundes died in his place.

“…this was not an attack on Ricardo. Today is especially difficult for me…because he died in my place…make no mistake about it. Ricardo died in my place. Every single one of those bullets were meant for me. All twenty-something of those bullets were meant for me. I am standing here…speaking to you from the grave…” Khan told the gathering.

He described Fagundes as his “son” and not his “worker, associate or friend.”

Khan said the incident is not one he or the family can move on from easily.

Khan clarified that Fagundes lived with him even before he [Khan] was imprisoned in the United States; he said Fagundes took care of his [Khan’s] daughter, like his own.

“Ricardo lived in my home before I went to prison…he picked me up from prison, from Eve Leary when I was released and he has never left my side. The night that he died, he was by my side.”

He described Fagundes as a person who invested in people and who was always there for him.

“Ricardo was not a financially wealthy person…Ricardo gave love, he invested in people.

“No matter what, he was always there for me; he never allowed nobody to disrespect me to his face…he was everything to his family. He was the boss of the house,” Khan said.

Khan also made a special appeal to President Irfaan Ali, to ensure that the Guyana Police Force conduct a thorough investigation into the murder.

The popular gold dealer and biker was riddled with bullets on March 21, 2021, on Main Street, Georgetown, moments after he exited the Palm Court nightclub.

CCTV footage on the night of the incident showed Fagundes walking towards a black vehicle after exiting the nightclub when two gunmen jumped out of a parked white fielder across the road and opened fire on him.

Fagundes was seen lying on the roadway as the two men stood over him and riddled his body with bullets before escaping in the waiting car.

Police retrieved several spent shells at the scene. No arrests have been made thus far and police are yet to determine whether a burnt fielder wagon, which was discovered in Swan Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, is the same one used by the gunmen.