[UPDATED] Woman shot dead in Penal after last-minute decision to stay

A last-minute decision to extend her visit to friends in Penal over the weekend led to tragedy when 65-year-old Quintin "Sucina" Marcano was shot dead while liming by the road.

She was killed on February 16 at around 5.30 pm on Rochard Road, Penal.

Marcano, from Cameron Hill, Maraval, was among a group of friends liming in a shed when shots were fired from across the street.

She was struck in the neck. She was taken to the Siparia District Health Facility, where she was declared dead at 5.53 pm.

A man believed to be the gunman was seen running away. He was wearing a black ski mask, green pants and a green T-shirt.

No other injuries were reported.

A 35-year-old villager from the area was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.

On February 17, a resident of the house where Marcano was staying shared more about her visit.

He told Newsday Marcano had arrived on February 14 for athe celebration of an 85-year-old woman's birthday.

Originally planning to leave on February 16, she stayed an extra night to attend a wake after a male relative of her friends died.

"She planned to leave on the bus this morning.

"She had been visiting friends in this community for over five years.

"Sucina was a quiet and loving person. Anywhere she went, people loved her. That was the type of person she was – friendly," a villager said. "She is also a gardener and sold her produce like chives, celery, sweet peppers at the stall (where she was hit)."

The resident also said many people were visiting from places like Tobago and Canada, and Marcano was not likely to have been the intended target.

"She was sitting in a chair when the shots were fired," he said. "I do not know how many children she had, but I know she was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother."

He made several allegations about the suspect.

There were two other shootings in January in the area in which two men died: Nicholas Morgan, 29, of Rochard Road, and Kevin "Pusin" Mohammed, 23, of Platanite Trace. The man said he could not say if the shooting deaths were connected.

At the home of the detained man, his relatives denied his involvement in the shooting, saying he was at home and had been awakened by the sound of gunfire.

They said he ran outside in his boxer shorts after hearing the shots, and was then accused by the crowd of being the gunman. The relative also denied the suspect had a gun and started shootinhg.

The relative said there seemed to be a rift between the suspect and other villagers who gathered after the shooting.

"I do not know what happened between him and them. But he usually stands up for himself.

"It is not easy to deal with this. We do not want him to get a frame case," the relative said.

An autopsy on Marcano is expected to be done at the Forensic Science Centre in St James later in the week.

Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three, police are continuing investigations.

This story was originally published with the headline: Maraval woman gunned down in Penal, and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A 65-year-old woman from Maraval was shot and killed while visiting relatives in Penal over the weekend.

Quintin Marcano, of Cameron Hill, Petit Valley, was declared dead at 5.53 pm on February 16 at the Siparia District Health Facility.

The shooting happened minutes earlier, around 5.30 pm, at Rochard Road, Penal.

Marcano was among a group of relatives liming in a shed, and gunshots were fired from across the road.

Marcano was hit and taken to the health facility.

No other injuries were reported.

A man believed to be the gunman was seen running away. He was wearing a black ski mask, green pants and a green T-shirt.

The police were notified and officers from the South Western Division and Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three, responded and gathered evidence.

No one has been arrested.

An autopsy is expected to be done at the Forensic Science Centre in St James later in the week.

Investigations are ongoing.