1 dead, 3 wounded in Valencia shooting

One man is dead and three others were injured after gunmen stormed a small wooden house on Paradise Lane, Valencia, and opened fire.

The deceased is 21-year-old Jamal Cumberbatch.

The injured are Sherniqua Straker, 16, Jamie Cumberbatch, 18, and Charmaine Cumberbatch, 51.

Reports say on August 9, Straker, Jamal’s girlfriend, was in bed with him. The other members of the family were also asleep around 11.37 pm. Straker said she heard dogs barking and a man shouting, "Police, police."

She woke Jamal and the other occupants of the home. They tried to leave through the back door when they heard gunshots outside. However, they were unable to escape.

The gunmen entered the house and shot Jamal in the head. Straker reported hearing one assailant say, "Hit him a headshot.”

After the shooting, Straker saw Jamal lying on the ground in a pool of blood. Jamal’s sister and mother were also wounded in the shooting.

Straker called the police, who arrived at the scene around 11.50 pm. Officers were on patrol in the Valencia area when they got the call from the command centre.

Officers found Jamal lying on his abdomen with gunshot wounds.

Police also found the three other victims covered in blood with gunshot wounds. WPC Simon and PC Lalite from the Valencia Police Post took Straker and Jamie to the Sangre Grande Hospital, while an ambulance took Charmaine to the Arima Health Facility.

The District Medical Officer visited the scene, viewed Jamal’s body, and declared him dead.

Crime Scene Officers processed the scene and recovered 40 spent shell casings from high-powered assault weapons. They also found three 9 mm spent shell casings.

Valencia Police are continuing their investigation.