Two Christmas fetes in Tunapuna and Arouca ended in tragedy early yesterday after two party-goers were shot dead after scuffles between fellow limers. The victims were identified as:
• Andre Alexis, 26, a labourer of Malabar, Arima
• Sean “Papa” Charles, 27, of Seventh Avenue, Phase Three, Bon Air Gardens, Arouca.
With fewer than four days to the end of the year the murder toll stood at 378 up to late yesterday. The corresponding toll for 2011, according to statistics from the Police Services’ Web site, was 343. In the first incident, which occurred shortly after 4 am, Alexis was liming with friends near to a house party at Lashley Street, Tunapuna.
Police said a fight broke out between two groups of patrons of the party, but the two rival factions both dispersed shortly after. Alexis, who was liming with his friends two houses away from the party, was not involved in the argument. According to reports, about 15 minutes later, a pistol-wielding man returned to the area and began shooting at Alexis and his friends. Eyewitness told police that Alexis and his friends attempted to hide from the gunman behind a wall.
However, Alexis was shot in his neck while two of his friends were grazed during the hail of gunfire. The gunmen then fled the scene through a nearby track. Alexis and his two friends were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Centre in Mt Hope where he (Alexis) was pronounced dead. His friends, who police did not want to be identified as they could identify the gunman, were treated and discharged from hospital.
Investigators believe Alexis and his friends were not the gunman’s target. The police were working on the theory the gunman mistook them for the other group who were involved in the argument in the party. Alexis, a part-time fire warden, was not known to police and had no criminal record, homicide detectives said yesterday.
In an interview at his grandmother’s home on Henry Road, El Dorado, yesterday afternoon Alexis’ aunt, Allene Forde, described her nephew as a quiet, hard-working youth. “He wasn’t in anything. He just went to lime with his friends,” Forde said. She said her entire family were struggling to cope with Alexis’ death. While commenting on the current crime situation in T&T, Forde suggested the police increase their presence during public holidays especially at parties.
“We can’t tell the young people not to lime and enjoy themselves. When police around though the gunmen does stay away,” Forde said. Almost two hours after Alexis’ shooting, Charles was liming with friends at an annual Christmas Day block-party at Ground Dove Drive, Bon Air Gardens, Arouca, when he had an argument with a man and other limers.
Eyewitnesses told police the man left the party and returned with a pistol. The man drew the firearm and shot Charles twice in the chest and once in his head. He fired several shots in the air to scare the other patrons before running away. Charles was pronounced dead on the scene by a District Medical Officer (DMO).
Investigators said Charles was well known to police and was on bail for firearm and narcotic-related offences. Charles, a father of three, was also a known gang member in his community, police said. Police believe Charles’ attacker was a 17-year-old resident of the area and also a member of the gang.
Investigators on the scene of Charles’ murder noted that patrols had already been increased to prevent possible reprisal killings. “We are advising Charles’ friends and family not to take the law into their own hands. Let us do our job,” one senior officer said. When a news team from the T&T Guardian visited the scene shortly after the shooting, party organisers were seen power-washing the area where the shooting took place.
Charles’ primary school teacher, Ester Stevenson, who lives a short distance away from where the party was held, described her former student as a pleasant young man. “He was always smiling, even in school,” Stevenson said. Another resident, who only wished to be identified as Victor criticised the organisers of the party saying that in past years similar parties in the area ended in violence.
“Is only when somebody get shoot or a fight break out, the party does end,” Victor said. He called upon police to prevent similar unlicenced events from being held in the community, which he said attracted criminal elements. ASP Ramkelawan, Insps David and Wayne Baptiste visited the scene and were probing Charles’ murder up to late yesterday.
Meanwhile, a 27-year-old truck driver was wounded while driving to his Soogrim Trace, Laventille, home, after a lime late on Christmas night. According to reports, around 11.15 pm on Tuesday, Dwight Phillip was driving his truck along Laventille Road when a gunman began shooting at his truck.
Phillip was shot once in the left leg while his vehicle was shot at several times. He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he remained warded in critical condition up to late yesterday. Police have not determined a motive for Phillip’s shooting. Besson Street Police are continuing investigations.
–Guardian
