The mother of one of three men killed by police on Tuesday in Central Trinidad said he was a hardened young man and blamed his death on his bad choices and the friends he kept.
Speaking with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday Marsha Dickson, mother of Jamal Morgan, said she had tried talking to him about his life but he never listened.
Dickson said her 26-year-old child of Griffith Road, Chin Chin, Cunupia was wrong for robbing a furniture store.
“I am not giving my son right for what he did. What he did was wrong. He was a hardened boy. He never used to listen. I was tired talking to him about the stupidness he was doing, but he always followed his friends,” Dickson said.
Dickson said judging from photographs of her son's body she believed he was trying to surrender when he was shot.
Morgan, Lance Clarke, 26, and Simeon Antoine, 25, were shot by police during an exchange of gunfire after an armed robbery in the district.
Police reported that the trio opened fire on them when they were stopped near Egypt Trace, Enterprise.
The officers returned fire and wounded the men who were pronounced dead on arrival at the Chaguanas District Hospital.
The men were cornered following a chase by the officers who responded to a robbery at a store along Soogrim Trace, Cunupia. The trio along with a fourth man escaped stole jewellery, cash and other items before fleeing.
Clarke's mother, Mavis Lord, said her son was a loving child who took her to church on Sunday. She said her son, of Jackman Trace, Cunupia, was a family oriented man and as old as he was, would still be playful with her.
She said his presence used to fill a room and was admired by the youths in the area. She too was of the view that her child.
Relatives of Antoine, of Hassarath Road, Cunupia did not speak with the media.