[UPDATED] 'Krysis' killed in Enterprise, but relatives say he was no gang member

Avinash “Krysis” Seepersad, whom police had described years ago as the leader of the Unruly Isis gang in Enterprise, Chaguanas, was shot dead at around midnight on Sunday.

But relatives say Seepersad, who was also known as Abdul Wakeel, was not a gang member.

When Newsday visited John Street, Enterprise, residents said Seepersad went to a nearby shop to buy a piece of cheese and, on his way back home, a car pulled alongside him and the occupants shot him several times. The car sped off.

“He had warmed some bread in the microwave and he went to the shop,” a neighbour said.

“He was hopping because he had gotten shot a few months before and he was now recovering and able to walk without a cane. When they shot him, he fell to the ground and he still had the piece of cheese in his hand.”

Police, responding to reports of gunshots in the area, found him face down on the side of the road. They took him to the Chaguanas District Health Facility, where he died while being treated.

In a phone interview with Newsday, a relative said while he was “not perfect,” Seepersad did not deserve to die the way he did. She was disappointed with the way he is being portrayed in death.

“People are passing him off as a gang member when he wasn’t. It is even in the media,” she said. “It is high-class bullying. It is a shame there isn’t a law for that in Trinidad and Tobago.”

An elderly resident described him as respectful.

“He was a cool fella,” the resident said. “He used to call me ‘mother’ all the time. He was very nice and very respectful."

“He gave trouble before, but he pat down a long time now,” said another resident.

Activist and leader of the Islamic Front Umar Abdullah recalled when he visited Mano Street and environs during a time of increased violence in the area and met Seepersad. Abdullah said he went there to speak to people in the community. He said with Seepersad's help, the Islamic Front launched a campaign called Be Better not Bitter, which led to people in the community sharing drinks and flowers with commuters in the area.

"What Krysis was doing was naming police officers who were corrupt," Abdullah said. "I would not want to remember him as the person who would walk the streets harassing people. I would rather remember him as the person who would be at the masjid and giving sermons every Friday, and the person who would have youths surrounding him and listening as he taught lessons."

Seepersad was arrested in 2017 after making homophobic remarks to police officers during a police exercise in Chaguanas. He was also known for making irate videos and speaking about alleged corrupt police officers and gang members.

Seepersad, at a news conference, said he was not a member of the gang and, although he was seen and heard promoting violence in a 2016 music video, had changed his ways.

After making allegations against police and members of the community in 2017, he was visited by then national security minister Edmund Dillon on March 31, 2017. Dillon confronted Seepersad about whether he was responsible for a spate of videos posted online which, Dillon said, had the entire country uneasy.

Seepersad later admitted he was in the videos and told Dillon he was willing to tell the authorities who the crooked police officers were and where the illegal guns were hidden on condition that he received protection.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Avinash “Krysis” Seepersad, who police had described years ago as the leader of the Unruly Isis gang in Enterprise, Chaguanas, was shot dead at around midnight on Sunday.

But relatives say Seepersad, who was also known by the Muslim name Abdul Wakeel, was not a gang member.

They say he was walking along John Street, off Mano Street, Enterprise, when a car pulled alongside him and opened fire before driving off.

Police, responding to reports of gunshots in the area, found him face down on the side of the road. They took him to the Chaguanas District Health Facility where he died while being treated.

In a phone interview with Newsday, a relative said while he was “not perfect” he still did not deserve to die the way he did. She was disappointed with the way he is being portrayed in death.

“People are passing him off as a gang member when he wasn’t. It is even in the media,” she said.

“It is high-class bullying. It is a shame there isn’t a law for that in TT.”

Seepersad was arrested in 2017 after making homophobic remarks to police officers during a police exercise in Chaguanas.

He was also known for making irate videos and speaking about alleged corrupt police officers and gang members.

Seepersad, at a news conference, said he was not a member of the gang and, although he was seen and heard promoting violence in a 2016 music video, had changed his ways.

After making allegations against police and members of the community in 2017, he was visited by then national security minister Edmund Dillon on March 31, 2017.

Dillon confronted Seepersad about whether he was responsible for a spate of videos posted online which, Dillon said, had the entire country uneasy.”

Wakeel later admitted that he was the one in the videos and told Dillon he was willing to tell the authorities who the crooked police officers were and where the illegal guns were hidden on the condition that he received protection.