Central Division police are bracing for more bloodshed following the murder of 17-year-old Kevon Paul, who was gunned down a short distance from his Claxton Bay home on Sunday.
Witnesses said a relative was heard calling for “reinforcements” at the crime scene, demanding blood for the death of Paul.
Hours later, a man was shot in the leg near the scene of Paul’s murder and investigators are probing whether it was in retaliation.
A report stated that around 8 pm Sunday, Paul was standing along Lodge Road Extension when a silver Nissan Tiida sedan stopped alongside him.
A gunman emerged and opened fire on Paul, who attempted to run but was hit several times.
The gunman then got back into the car and the driver drove off. Paul died on the scene.
Couva CID and Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region Three officers responded and a search was made for the car and the occupants. However, neither was found up to late yesterday.
Investigators were yet to establish a motive yesterday but noted that the area had been a hotspot of drugs, guns and other crimes. Even residents complained of feeling unsafe in their homes and warned the media of the presence of criminals in the community.
When a news team visited Paul’s Rosehill Street home yesterday, a relative hurled expletives and threats at journalists, adding that he did not want them in his community.
Investigators were also running background checks on Paul to see if they could find any links to his killers.
On Paul’s Facebook profile, there are photographs of him wearing large gold jewellery and in possession of a large amount of cash.
In an unrelated incident, a motive is yet to be determined for the murder of 22-year-old Maraval resident Kadeem Critchlow yesterday.
According to a police report, at about 9.30 am Critchlow, of Le Platte Village, was walking along a dirt track in the area when he was shot several times about the body.
Residents who heard the gunshots later found him dead.
Critchlow’s murder was the 213th for the year so far.
Investigations are continuing.
—With reporting by Rhondor Dowlat