Mom calls ‘vengeance of Moko’ on killer

KINNESHA GEORGE-HARRY

AFTER more than five months without a murder, Tobago has registered four in June after an early-morning shooting on Wednesday. Police said Dwight Turpin, 37, was shot dead on Wednesday morning in Mt Hay Trace, Black Rock.

Newsday understands that shortly after 7 am, Turpin, a mason assigned to the Development Programme with the THA Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment, was on his job site when a gunman walked up and shot him seven times.

The father of one, who was originally from Mt D’Or, had been living at St Cecelia Road, Concordia in Tobago for 27 years. He died at the scene.

Police said the gunman, who eyewitnesses said was covered in a white sheet and wore a wig, escaped in Turpin’s white Honda Civic, PBX 4820.

Arriving at the scene after hearing of her son’s death, Turpin’s mother Denise Mohammed was distraught but warned, “The vengeance of Moko on allyuh...Woe be unto the man that pull that trigger on my son.”

Mohammed said her son was loving and could not think why anyone would want him dead. “My son never shed nobody blood, Dwight is a ‘mouther’ man, my son had a loving heart, my son loved his family.”

A district medical officer visited the scene and viewed the body before ordering its removal to the Scarborough mortuary.

A forensic autopsy was also ordered. Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis speaking with reporters during Wednesday’s weekly post Executive Council media briefing, extended condolences to the family as well as Turpin’s co-workers and colleagues.

“I want to extend condolences to all those individuals; family, friends, colleagues on the job and to give the assurance that the Tobago House of Assembly will give the necessary support, psychological and otherwise, to all impacted,” he said noting that every occurrence of crime concerns him greatly.

The Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment in a press release said they are saddened by the news of the death of one of their employees.

“On behalf of the division, Councillor Kwesi Des Vignes, Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment extends sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Dwight Turpin. May his soul rest in peace,” the division said.

ACP Tobago Vernon Roberts said investigations are continuing.

He also called on anyone with information which can lead to an arrest, to contact the nearest police station, or give the information anonymously through Crime stoppers 555, 800-TIPS, or 482-GARY.