Tears for baby Soriah

Deisha Baxam was too distraught to speak yesterday on the death of her daughter Soriah, two, who was killed after a shooting incident involving a close relative, who is said to be a soldier, during a domestic argument on Tuesday evening.

“She is in a bad state right now, so no interview will be given at this moment. She needs time to process what has taken place,” said a relative outside the house in Sangre Grande where Soriah was allegedly shot while being held by a relative who was confronted by the soldier. The soldier remains in custody and an autopsy is expected to be done today on the child’s body.

On her Facebook page, Baxam posted a photo of her daughter with the words: “I’m speechless...words can’t explain how I feel right now. Know u are in a better place baby u will always be my Sori. Mommy will miss the moments we had every morning waking before I go to work putting on my make-up and asking me if it’s pretty, and always want me bring back an apple for you. God knows best I love you. RIP”

The soldier is reported to have pulled the gun and fired on a man who was holding the child. Soriah, sources said, was shot in the abdomen. The man holding her, who is said to be 65 years, was shot in his right arm. Deisha and her mother Ingrid, were unharmed. Police said that on Tuesday, Deisha was at home with her family when a dispute erupted with the 29-year-old soldier who pulled out his TT Defence Force-issued pistol and opened fire. He then jumped into his car and sped off. Both the child and her elderly relative were taken to the Sangre Grande Hospital where Soriah was pronounced dead on arrival. The male relative was treated and warded.

The soldier was later arrested in his car along the Eastern Main Road. A pistol loaded with 14 rounds and 30 additional rounds were found and seized by police. Officers later went to the soldier’s Vega de Oropouche home where they found and seized a quantity of ammunition.

Yesterday, president of the Single Fathers Association Rhondall Feeles issued a release extending his condolences to the family and urging Government to implement legislation to treat properly with co-parenting arrangements to avoid other violent incidents.

“Our association is overwhelmed with calls daily, many with the potential to end in tragedy as was the case with yesterday’s events. However all of our calls on successive governments for assistance by way of an official office space and structured funding to treat with these issues, have fallen on deaf ears,” Feeles said.

Defence Force public information officer, Flight Lt Monique Sprott confirmed that a soldier was in police custody and that the Defence Force is working closely with police investigators.