The cousin of Olympic Gold medallist Keshorn Walcott was gunned down at his Cumana home on Saturday night in what police said appeared to be as retaliation for the recent murder of a fisherman in the rural northeast coast village.
Police identified the victim as Kevon “Monkey” Walcott, a fisherman of L’Anse Noire. He succumbed to his gunshot injuries while undergoing emergency treatment at Toco Health Centre.
The 33-year-old father of two was shot multiple times by an assailant who ran into his yard around 8.30 pm.
Police said Walcott drove up at his Cumana home, parked his white Nissan Navara van, alighted, and was walking towards the door of his home when a gunman began shooting.
Walcott fell to the ground, bleeding and pleading for help, eyewitnesses said.
His common-law wife and 2 children ran for cover when they heard the gunshots. They have since fled the home fearing for their safety, police said.
Police officers from the Matelot Police Station driving along the Toco Main Road were alerted to the shooting and cordoned off the scene before officers of the Toco Police Station responded.
The first responders saw Walcott, who was still alive, lying on the pathway of his house, with multiple gunshots wounds. The officers took the injured man to the nearby Toco Health Centre.
Police said Walcott death had been linked to the murder of, David Callender, another fisherman from the district. Villagers said Walcott’s name had been calling as the person who concealed the murder weapon.
Callender, 38, of Unity Lane, Anglais Road, Cumana was also shot and killed, by a man after an argument over a missing boat light last Sunday. The 30-year-old suspect in that case was arrested by Matura Police during a roadblock hours after the incident.
On Friday, police received instructions from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge the suspect with possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
Police in that region is also still investigating the case where the limbs of a Penal man washed ashore in Matura and Balandra last week.
Walcott murder has taken the murder count to 41 in 23 days.
RALPH BANWARIE