[UPDATED] Family of slain Carenage man: 'Crime in Trinidad and Tobago outrageous'

THREE MEN were shot dead between 9 pm on July 10 and 6.30 am the next day in Carenage, Morvant and Belmont.

Damien Dedier, 29, was described as humble, quiet, kind and selfless by his family. He was shot dead in his car on the night of July 10 in Seaview Hill, Carenage.

Police said around 11.30 pm on July 10 they responded to reports of gunshots in the area.

When they arrived they found a red Honda Civic parked in the road and noticed the driver’s door open.

They found Dedier dead in the driver’s seat with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family was visibly emotional after viewing his body at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on the morning of July 11.

Speaking to Newsday, a female relative, who did not want to be named, said she believes Dedier’s death was a result of jealousy.

“He was a really humble person in the community, never on any foolishness. No one could say Damien fall out with this one or that one.

“You don’t even have to do someone something out here. (They) just taking your life off of envy. As they see you doing good, they want that same thing too, so they’ll eventually pull up on you and kill you.”

She described the state of crime as “outrageous” and believes more people should speak up about it.

“People around know what does be going on, but is a hush-hush thing, and they need to speak up.”

Dedier had a six-year old son. Dedier’s sister Maria said her brother worked extremely hard to take care of his child.

She too described crime as “outrageous.”

“It’s only when it hits at home that is how you does know.

“In general, it’s just getting outrageous.”

She described many of the young people in the country – living a life of crime – as being “heartless.”

“Nothing can separate us from this generation. They just really, really heartless.”

She urged those living a life of crime to make a change in their life.

“If you live by the sword, you’ll die by the sword.

“It so hard to see so much young people going down that path – although my brother was not down that path of crime – it’s heartbreaking to see so many young people just falling into that life.”

She attributed some of their life decisions to the company they keep and Trinibad music.

“Music has a lot of influence – gang-related music. When you listen to it, your mindset goes into that violence.”

Dedier’s brother-in-law Joseph recalled when Dedier used to come to his house or call to wake him up asking if he was going to church.

“Damien was a very quiet person, never problematic, always calm.

“The state of crime just ridiculous. None of these guys getting to see their 40s or 50s.”

He urged the criminal elements to put down the guns and to “done with this violence thing because it ain’t making no sense.”

Two men were also gunned down in separate incidents in Morvant and Belmont.

On the night of July 10, Antonio Lorenzo Taylor, 28, of Stevenville, Las Alturas, Morvant, was shot dead.

Police said around 9 pm on July 10 they responded to gunshots heard at Chinapoo Road, off Laventille Road, Chinapoo Village, Morvant.

When they arrived they saw Taylor lying on his back in a drain on the eastern side of the road with gunshot wounds to his upper torso. The District Medical Officer pronounced him dead at the scene.

The Special Evidence Recovery Unit (SERU) found one deformed and 14 5.56 mm spent shell casings.

Investigators believe Taylor’s killing was gang-related.

In another incident on the morning of July 11 Shaquille Parreira, 26, of LP 37 Upper Belmont Valley Road, Belmont, was shot dead.

Police said around 6.30 am on July 11 Parreira was waiting for transport along that same road.

A white vehicle pulled up and a lone gunman got out and shot at Parreira hitting him multiple times.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe his killing to be gang-related.

They recovered several 5.56 mm shells. Investigations in all three murders are ongoing.

This story was originally published with the title "Carenage man gunned down on July 10" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

DAMIEN Dedier was shot dead in his car in the night on July 10 at Seaview Hill, Carenage.

Police said around 11.30 pm on July 10 they responded to reports of gunshots in the area.

When they arrived they found a red Honda Civic parked in the road and noticed the driver's door open.

They found Dedier dead in the driver's seat with gunshot wounds.

He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Speaking to Newsday at the Forensic Science Complex, St James on July 11, Dedier's family said he was a quiet person who kept to himself. They believe his murder was due to envy.