Gang warfare in the country literally exploded on Wednesday night when a hand grenade was thrown at a group of men at Sixth Avenue, Malick, Barataria, injuring two men and damaging a car and a nearby shop. Police sources said the detonation of the grenade was part of a turf war between Rasta City and Muslims, both of whom are claiming ownership of the territory.
Police said they were uncertain which of the two warring factions was responsible for the attack yesterday. Investigators said around 10 pm a group of men and women were standing near the basketball court when a Nissan AD wagon drove by and an occupant threw a grenade at the crowd.
A few seconds later, there was a large explosion and thick smoke. Two men — Kristopher St Cyr, 20 and Ricardo Harewood, 29 — were injured and taken to hospital. Harewood’s Mitsubishi Lancer was damaged by shrapnel along with a snackette across the road.
Speaking with the media yesterday at their homes at Upper Sixth Avenue, the injured men denied they were involved in any criminal activity. They said had they been, they would never be “out in the open.” Both men received injuries to their legs and were treated and discharged.
Harewood recalled: “We was liming and a car come out of Ninth Street there and I hear something go ‘Ping’. And I turn around thinking someone throw out a tin or something out the car.
And boy less than 15 seconds after I hear ‘boom’ and the whole place get black. Like they try to pelt it in the crowd but it hit the car and bounce off and stop. So if that car wasn't there, all ah we dead for sure.”
St Cyr said: “As soon as I hear ‘boom’, I feel a pain in my leg but at first we didn't even know it was a bomb. I was fixing something in the car earlier and thought the car blow up because while fixing the car it had a light keep on blinking and I didn't know why.
“So I hear the boom and I running. By the time I run a little way I realise I get some injuries and blood was just shooting out my leg.”
St Cyr was injured in the right calf while Harewood sustained injuries to the right ankle and left forearm.
Both men said they were grateful to be alive and would be reconsidering when and where they congregated from now on. A wrought iron doorway to a nearby shop was punctured by the flying shrapnel, while the explosion left a whole in the roadway and several holes in the walls of the shop.
Residents who were nearby when the explosion took place said they thought a transformer exploded when they heard the noise but after seeing there was still electricity they became worried.
Another witness said: “That explosion is new, shots and thing normal but bacchanal is normal thing here. We not going in hiding or change anything because of this though.”
Police said following the murder of Nicholas Reyes last July turf war began to escalate. Around 8.30 am on July 23, Reyes and his wife were leaving their home at Valley Drive, Malick, when four masked men approached them and without warning opened fire.
They were shot several times. They were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope. However, Reyes was pronounced dead on arrival.