RALPH BANWARIE
A 25-year-old man was gunned down while liming at party at Moolchan Street, Guaico, Sangre Grande, yesterday. Orcale Kerbie Smith, 25, an unemployed father of two, died on the spot after he was shot by a gunman around 4 am.
Police reported that around 4.10 am they responded to reports of gunshots by villagers at Moolchan Street. On arrival police found Smith in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to his chest.
Police said eyewitnesses said Smith was standing on the road with friends when a lone gunman approached him and began firing. Smith clutched his chest and fell to the ground, where he died. His friends scampered to safety while the gunman casually walked away.
Neighbours reported that they were awakened by loud explosions but thought it was fireworks. Many of the neighbours went to the Smiths’ home where they gave support to the family members.
District Medical Officer Dr Prince viewed the body and ordered its removal to Sangre Grande District Hospital mortuary, from where it will be taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, for a post mortem.
Visiting the scene were Insps Rayan Tom, Ken Lutchman, Cpl Randy Castillo, PCs Rayan Charles, Amit Samuel, Shiva Buchoon and WPCs Ria Timothy and Swanders. Police investigators recovered several spent shells at the crime scene.
The victim’s sister, Pearl Smith, told the T&T Guardian that she had hours earlier been liming at a party not too far from their home. She said she decided to return home around 2 am and tried to get him to do the same but he refused. She said hours later she received a call saying he had been shot.
“I was in shock, I did not know what to say and kept asking if Orcale was really dead. Only a few hours before I was with my living brother having fun and he is now dead. I still can't believe this,” she said at the family’s home.
Police said they had no motive for the killing, but the deceased was well known by them. They also recalled that Smith was shot sometime in 2012 and survived. Smith’s younger brother Nicholas 22, was also shot when he was 18 years but survived that attack.
The victim’s father Lester Smith and mother Kathleen Rochford were to distraught to speak. But Pearl Smith said they were all living in fear as they do not know if the attacker would return. Cpl Samuel is continuing investigations.