Five people were shot dead during a birthday party in Curepe, yesterday, in the latest shock in this country’s staggering murder rate.
The deceased have been identified as Kerron Charles, Damien Punette, Hakim Vickles, Glen Morris and Ray James. Two others-Kelvin Parris and Girma Selassie-remain warded at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in critical condition.
Relatives of Charles, Punette,Vickles and Morris described their murders yesterday as unprovoked, insisting the men were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The multiple killings have now pushed the murder count for the year to 372.
The murderous attack, police report, started around 2.30 a.m. with two armed men entering the La Cabana Club, on Knowles Street and shot in James’s direction.
James, 23, of Jackson Street, Curepe, reportedly a former Youth Training Centre inmate, is said to have had an altercation with gang members from the area on Saturday night.
According to police, James was affiliated with several gangs and was known to have frequented the club and other pubs in the area.
He was shot several times about the body, including his head.
Police stated that several guests were attending the birthday party at the club of a woman-whom investigators refused to identify-when two men entered and shot at James. However, after he fell, they kept firing indiscriminately having made sure of their primary target by shooting him even as he lay dead on the ground.
Several patrons fled through the club’s exit, with some running through the nearby Knowles Street Recreation Ground which lies a few feet from the club.
In the melee, the murderers made their escape.
Following the shooting spree, Parris and Selassie were discovered bleeding in a corner of the club and rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where they remained warded in critical condition. Sources say Parris was shot in the left shin, while Selassie was shot in his back.
Morris, 27, lived at Bertie Trace, Arouca and was shot several times.
When the Express visited the Curepe area, relatives of Charles, also called ’KK’ and Boatman’, described him as being ’a hard working construction person.’
Relatives of Punette, who live a short distance from the club said they heard several gunshots.
Purnette, 25, a welder/mason, lived on Knowles Street and went to the club with several friends. A female relative described him as being ’cool, humble and very hard working and hardly ever limed.’
’He was the caretaker for the place (La Cabana Club). He came home and dropped off his girlfriend, then went to drop off the van at the club, but while there he saw his friends and started liming,’ the relative said.
Adding that relatives remain shocked over the incident, the female relative who was also at the club said when the shooting occurred the only thing she thought of was ’to just get out.’
Relatives of Fourth Form student Vickles were more vocal as they grieved over his death. Vickles, of Bellesmythe Street, Curepe and a student of the St Joseph Secondary School was shot behind the DJ booth at the club.
Vickles’ brother Kelsay Nico Hughes said: ’He was a good one. He just leave home to go and play music in the party and we got a call stating that he get shoot. I tried calling his cell phone three to four times and was not getting any answer.’
Stating his brother was known as the ’fix-it man’ around the neighbourhood, Hughes said: ’He always saying he wanted to be a technician. ’He was never disrespectful, he never hold no gun. He was the life of a party when he nearby everybody does be entertained.’
A female relative of Selassie described his condition as being critical. ’He is conscious but critical.’
Selassie,16, of NUGFW Drive, Valsayn, was not supposed to have been at the party, his relative said.
’He is just 16 years old and was not hearing to stay inside,’ the relative said.
A team of investigators led by ACP John Trevajo, Sen Supt John Edwards, Ag Supt David Nedd, Insp Ancil Corbette and officers of the Special Anti Crime Unit (SAUTT) and Homicide Bureau visited the scene. Investigations are continuing.
