[UPDATED] Man shot dead minutes after visiting baby daughter – A KISS BEFORE DEATH

MINUTES after he kissed his one-month-old daughter goodbye, a Diego Martin man was confronted by gunmen as he was entering his car to head home and cut down in a hail of bullets along the road in John John, Laventille on Monday night.

Police who were called to the scene by residents after they heard the rapid gunfire, were surprised that Dexter Durham was still breathing when they found him slumped in the car, since he had been shot multiple times in the head and chest.

He was taken to Port of Spain General Hospital by the officers, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said 30-year-old Durham visited his daughter and common-law wife at Africa Road in John John, at around 7.30 pm and was getting into his black Suzuki Ciaz car when he was approached by the group who demanded to know who he was, where he was from and what he was doing in John John.

Minutes later, gunfire broke out.

Officers from the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and Besson Street CID went to the scene where they found Durham slumped in the car, bleeding profusely from multiple gunshot wounds.

When Newsday visited John John where Durham was killed, residents said his daughter's mother was not at home at that time and no one knew when she and other relatives would be returning.

Residents were very cautious in what they said and agreed to speak briefly with Newsday once it was clear that they would not be named or photographed.

All of them said that Durham's murder was very unsettling even for them who live in John John, where shootings and killings have become commonplace. One resident however said that Africa Road is a generally quiet area. She did not want to say anything else.

Another resident described Durham's death as "senseless," adding that she could not understand how it is a man who came to visit his baby and who was leaving, could have his life snuffed out so violently and callously. She said, "This community needs to come together.

"This is total nonsense what happened here. I personally try to stay away from circles that could cause me any trouble. But this is real madness."

Another resident was so concerned for her personal safety that she declined to comment on any questions about the community or the incident.

"Even if we knew anything about what happened, which we don't, we can't say anything because we still have to live here at the end of the day," she said.

Newsday then visited Durham's neighbourhood on Dillion Street, Diego Martin and spoke with a relative who said she was still trying to come to terms with his murder.

"She (Durham's daughter) was born just last month, I can't even find the words to describe how I'm feeling right now," said the woman who asked not to be identified. She added that Durham was the father of three.

Newsday also spoke to Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland who said he was saddened to hear about Durham's murder adding that it was troubling.

"I am desperately sorry to hear about that. The loss of life especially by such means is always something that troubles.

"I was in Africa Road about a week or two weeks ago and (while) I'm not a substitute for the State agencies, I would make some enquiries, we want to avoid any loss of life.

"What is really important is the stamping out and the arresting of that type of activity," Scotland said.

Crime scene investigators said they found 20 spent shells from the scene.

The car was towed to the Special Evidence Recovery Unit (SERU) in Cumuto, for forensic analysis. Up to press time, no arrest was made nor a motive established. However, police sources said it could have simply been a case of Durham being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Detectives from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (Region I) are continuing enquiries.

As of Tuesday afternoon the murder toll for the year 50 compared to 25 for the same period last year.

This story was originally published with the title "Diego Martin man shot dead in John John" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A 30-YEAR-OLD Diego Martin man was gunned down shortly after visiting relatives in John John, Laventille on Monday night.

Police said Dexter Durham visited his common-law wife at Africa Road, John John, at around 7.30 pm and was getting into his black Suzuki Ciaz car when he was approached by a group of men who demanded to know where he was from and what he was doing here.

The men then shot Durham several times in his head and chest before running off. Residents who heard the gunshots, called the police.

Officers from the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and Besson Street CID went to the scene where they found Durham bleeding and slumped behind the wheel of his car.

Police took Durham to the Port of Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Newsday visited the area where Durham was killed on Tuesday to speak with his relatives but were told that they were not at home at the time by neighbours.

Residents said while they did not know him personally, the murder was unsettling.

Investigations are continuing and up to press time, no arrest was made.