Shock, sorrow after Chaguanas drive-by shooting – BOY, 9, SHOT DEAD

THERE was shock, sorrow and anger following the shooting death of nine-year-old Jamal Modeste, whose only "crime" was to be playing innocently at a recreation ground on Saturday night, when gunmen arrived with murderous intent.

Shock and sorrow ran through Jamal's immediate family while these two emotions were joined by anger among social media users who reacted to the child's death.

For her part, Germaine Modeste, 74, was asking why police were not around to prevent the death of her great grandson who was shot in the back as he turned to run away when the gunmen opened fire from inside their car on people liming at the recreation ground before speeding off.

The recreation ground is not too far from the Enterprise Street, Enterprise, Chaguanas home of little Jamal.

According to a police report, at around 8.20 pm on Saturday, several shots were fired from a white panel van near the basketball court at the African Recreation Grounds in Enterprise.

Jamal was struck by a bullet in his back and fell to the ground. He was taken to the Chaguanas Health Centre where he died while being treated. The panel van was stolen at gunpoint earlier on Saturday.

When Newsday visited Jamal's home at Enterprise Street, Modeste was in a state of utter disbelief over his murder as relatives and neighbours came to the house to express their condolences.

She said Jamal liked playing at the nearby African recreation grounds with his friends. The grounds comprise a football field, basketball court, and play area for children. A football match was taking place at the time of the shooting on Saturday night while a concert was supposed to be held at the basketball court shortly after the game.

On Sunday, the area was deserted with the lights surrounding the recreation ground still turned on.

A resident, who did not give his name, said the lights are normally switched off each night. But he added this was forgotten because of what happened on Saturday.

Modeste said the vehicle which was involved in the incident is one which delivered baked goods to residents.

"I really saw the bakery van going down down the road speeding." She said there were sounds of shouting and several gunshots shortly afterwards. "It was gunshots for so in the savannah."

Modeste said there was a big football game in progress at the time. She claimed that 300 people were at the ground and many were children. With such a large gathering, she felt that the police should have been present.

"Where the police and them was? Not a police in sight," she cried.

Modeste said every time there were football games at the ground, the police were usually present. "But on Saturday night, there were no officers. Where were they last night?"

She said Jamal was playing with his friends when the incident happened. "The fellas and them came and shoot up the place and everybody ran for cover." Modeste said while Jamal was running, he was shot in his back.

She added that one of Jamal's friends who was with him, was left traumatised on seeing him get shot.

"He (Jamal's friend) ran in by the parlour (near the ground) and up to now, he can't done stop crying. They have to carry that boy for counselling." Modeste added that Jamal turned nine in March. She said he loved playing football. Newsday was told that Jamal's father Joel was too distraught to speak.

On her Facebook page, Jamal's mother posted on Sunday: "Allyuh jus take my heart and soul they I have nothing left in me anymore seeing my son last night trying to wake up is like I died too.

"Why allyuh take him from us, he was jus ah innocent child, a baby, he ain't (do) allyuh nothing. Oh gosh fudgie, my child, get up please baby."

Many who posted responses to this post, expressed shock, anger and outrage over the child's murder.

Modeste said the family was never worried, in the past, about Jamal going to the grounds to play. "He was always playing with his friends. It was over 100 of them who were playing last night." Modeste reiterated, "where were the police?"

Jamal's grandmother Rosanne Ramdial-Hamilton was distraught over Jamal's murder and wept as she hugged her daughter Kitana John. "I want to know why. Why they do my grandson this," Rosanne cried.

She said Jamal was a quiet child who loved football and playing video games. "My grandson was just playing when they came and killed him. My grandson was innocent," she cried. Hamilton said Jamal was a student of Carapichaima RC Primary School.

She appealed for an end to crime and for young people not to get involved in it. "This is the second time crime hitting me and twice it's been murder. It hitting me real hard."

In a statement on Sunday, acting Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher extended condolences to Jamal's family. She also promised that no stone would be left unturned in bringing his killers to justice.

“Over the years the Police Service has invested resources in the Enterprise area and will continue to work and partner with members of the community," she said in the release.

Christopher, who was appointed acting CoP on October 11, in the absence of acting CoP McDonald Jacob who is in the United Kingdom on official business, promised that Jamal's family will receive support from the police service's Victims and Witness Support Unit.