Boy, 12, killed, contractor injured in drive-by, 2 gunmen held

An 12-year-old boy is dead after a shooting in East Dry River, Port of Spain.

Ezekiel Paria was shot dead in Mapp Trace, Laventille when a group of men opened fire on a car on Laventille Road.

Reports say around 4.50 pm, 39-year-old contractor Ahkel Fairbairn was on his way home after picking up his 15-year-old daughter from school.

Fairbairn’s relatives say it appeared the gunmen were familiar with his daily routine, as they followed him in his red Kia Rio from the bottom of Laventille Road.

They waited until he pulled aside near Rudolph Charles Link Road and overtook his car and began spraying the car with bullets.

Fairbairn’s daughter got out of the car and ran away. She was not injured.

When the smoke cleared, Fairbin was found with gunshot injuries. Paria, who was standing nearby when the shooting began, was found lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head.

Fairbairn’s relatives took him to the hospital in the bullet-riddled car. Police took Paria to the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Paria was pronounced dead at the hospital and Fairbin remains warded in stable condition.

Paria’s parents, who were unaware of what took place, were informed by neighbours when they arrived home, and immediately went to the hospital.

More than a dozen spent shells were found at the scene, including several high-powered rifle bullet casings.

Police responded within minutes of the shooting and, acting on information, were able to detain two suspects. The men were held in a silver Toyota NZE in Block 22, Laventille and were taken to a nearby police station to be questioned.

One of Fairbairn’s relatives said they were at a loss as to why he was targeted. The relative said, apart from being a contractor, Fairbin also played football and had not received any threats recently.

“It’s a case of wrong place, wrong time I believe,” said his relative.

The shooting took places metres away from a wall with the phrase “Fully 6” spray-painted on it in silver.

Councillor for St Ann's River North Alicia Gift said she tried to visit Paria’s family but was unable to, as the area was still cordoned off by police.

Gift said she had no information about the facts, but added, “It's a sad situation that we have to be dealing with such things in our community.”

Asked about the “Fully 6” graffiti and the presence of gangs in the area, Gift lamented the situation.

“It's an unfortunate situation. Not just in my community, but in all the communities that have been affected and continue to be affected. It's a very sad situation.”

Newsday tried to get residents’ thoughts on the shooting but they were hesitant to speak with the media.

One woman, who initially refused to speak, said, "We scared because it’s a child.”

“I have a ten-year-old, so you know how I feeling. My belly hurting," she said as she walked away.

Another resident said he believed the incident could possibly trigger a gang war in the area.

Asked about reprisal killings he said, “It’s not no big maths to think about. You done know it’s a tit for tat.”

Another man was packing his belongings in his car, saying he was leaving the area “for a little bit.”

The man, who runs a small business nearby said the area had been quiet for some time and he was surprised when he heard the gunshots. He said while there had been shootings in the area in the past, it had calmed down recently.

He said he was not going to take any chances with his life and planned to get out of the area until things calmed down again.

An earlier story identifying the child as Ezequiel Huggins and the contractor as Ahkel Fairbin has since been corrected.