'Baby' in ICU after shooting at La Romaine

CONSTRUCTION labourer Ricardo Barclay, 28, had just walked across the road to meet a friend on Saturday night when occupants of a "taxi" pulled up next to him and began shooting. Barclay, also called Baby, was up to late today fighting for his life at the intensive care unit of the San Fernando General Hospital. His friend, Gebre Cordner, 26, is at the hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The shooting happened at about 9.30 pm at Charles Street, La Romaine, near their homes. Residents told Newsday that as soon as Barclay walked across the road, men in a silver Nissan Tiida car fired several shots at them. The car had a registration number plate starting with the letter "H" which is reserved for hire vehicles.

"Gebre was sitting by the drain. When the men began shooting, he managed to run behind a house and in the yard of a neighbour. He got five shots. Richard was shot in his belly and like the bullet shattered inside him. He fell on the concrete and the men continued shooting at Gebre," said a resident who requested anonymity.

Although Barclay was only shot once, his injuries are more life-threatening than Cordner’s.

"Ricardo needs six pints of blood. He is a small-built man."

The pair of slippers that Barclay was wearing at the time of the shooting remained on the road when Newsday visited the scene.

Cordner, who works as a taxi driver, plies several routes in south Trinidad. He previously lived in the Port of Spain district, police said.

Police said the car sped off after the shooting and residents contacted police. Southern Division police took the wounded men to the hospital.

Sgt Williams of San Fernando CID is leading investigations.