[UPDATED] Dead 5 days after being shot – Zwade Alleyne's tragic end

At 4.15 pm on May 15, Zwade Alleyne, who captured national and regional attention after being struck by a stray bullet, shuddered as he took his final breath and then lay still, bringing a tragic end to his 17 years of life.

On May 10, as he was standing near the door of his home in Building 12, Maloney Gardens, the youngster grabbed his head and collapsed. He was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope where he breathed his last.

In a brief and heart-wrenching phone conversation at 4.30 pm on May 15, Alleyne’s uncle Keron Bethelmy confirmed the devastating news. “He just passed,” he said, his voice heavy with grief.

The bullet entered near Alleyne's left ear and exited through the back of his skull, leaving damage to his brain which was so severe and extensive that he was declared brain-dead by doctors.

News of the shooting reverberated across social media, sparking widespread sorrow and disbelief, especially as it followed closely on the heels of another devastating loss.

Just weeks prior, Ezekiel Ramdialsingh, another young footballer and student of Arima North Secondary School, was murdered. Ramdialsingh was described as a talented, hard-working young man whose passion for football set him apart.

He ran a car wash at his family’s home in Phase Four, La Horquetta, and was shot dead on April 15 after returning from a general election campaign meeting. He, too, had simply been liming with friends at a shop when a gunman approached the group, opened fire and ran off.

Earlier on May 15, around 1 pm, Bethelmy had shared with Newsday that Alleyne was still alive, though his condition had severely worsened. This comment came amid an outpouring of love and condolences following unconfirmed reports of his death, which had already begun circulating online.

According to Bethelmy, doctors a troubling drop in Alleyne’s heart rate and advised the family to "prepare for the worst."

In a solemn moment, Bethelmy said, “He’s still alive,” holding on to faith despite the gravity of the situation. “I don’t give up, but at the same time, let God’s will be done.” He commended the hospital’s medical team for their tireless efforts and compassion.

“Doctors really tried. They explored all avenues of care. I must say, they were very pleasant and extremely professional.”

Despite the loss, Bethelmy confirmed that the family’s Prayer and Peace Walk would continue as planned on May 18, beginning at the Arima Velodrome.

Calling for national unity and a collective stand against violence, he made a heartfelt appeal: “As a nation, we need to fight back, not with violence, but with our humanity. Love is the only force powerful enough to drive out the hate we’re seeing in this country.”

He reflected on the deeper, often overlooked roots of violence among youth.

“Some of these young men are going out there with no conscience. A lot of it starts at home, with how they’re treated by parents. Parenting plays a big role,” he said.

Urging a return to moral and spiritual grounding, he continued, “We need to get back to the humanistic side because God made us with love. When we stop loving, it’s like a dysfunctional body. Anything can happen when the body doesn’t breathe love.”

His message ended with a call for spiritual healing: “I only love because the love I know comes from Jesus Christ. Until men come to Christ, the world and this country won’t change. Even if the violence is right at your front door.”

The premature rumours of Alleyne’s death led to confusion and prompted several online pages to post untimely condolences.

At the time, Newsday contacted the Bethelmy family’s Facebook page and spoke with a woman identifying herself as a relative. She explained the rumours stemmed from a WhatsApp status shared by Alleyne’s mother, Keisha Alleyne, but declined to confirm or elaborate further.

Amid the heartbreak and chaos, the Ministry of Education expressed condolences through a Facebook post on May 15.

Education Minister Michael Dowlath said in a media release that members of the executive extended their sympathies, noting Alleyne was a form five student with a passion for football. It said he was deeply valued by his peers and his football academy. The post ended with the solemn words, “May his soul rest in peace.”

Later that afternoon, at approximately 3.30 pm, the Arima North Secondary football team paid tribute via Instagram: “Rest in peace, Zwade Alleyne…”

The post honoured his impressive football career: a 2022 East Zone Under-14 Runner-Up, 2023 East Zone Intercol Champion, East Zone Senior Knock-Out Champion, and East Zone Under-16 League Champion. It concluded, “You will never be forgotten.”

On May 11, Mother’s Day and the day after the deadly shooting, Newsday spoke with the school’s football coach, Wayne Sheppard, who expressed deep sorrow and mounting frustration.

“Zwade was just being a teenager when the unthinkable happened,” he said.

He rejected the notion of keeping boys locked inside all day as a solution, calling it a form of abuse in itself. “Now, it feels like the only way to keep them alive.”

His voice brimmed with urgency and despair: “Something is deeply wrong in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Sheppard called on those in authority to act decisively.

“If the killing continues, what kind of future do we have? This is madness. This is a war zone for boys simply trying to live their lives. Are we really just living by luck and chance now?”

He remembered Alleyne as a laid-back yet determined young man who had worked hard to shed the “lazy” label.

“He really pushed himself last year. He started in the semifinal match when we won the Eastern Intercol title, and he was only 15 then. He had even been part of the national training pool.”

Also speaking to Newsday on May 11 was Lasana Liburd, director of football at Arima North Secondary, who offered his prayers and support to the Alleyne family. He described Zwade as a passionate footballer and a dedicated student-athlete.

Reflecting on the emotional toll recent tragedies have taken, Liburd noted, "Our school counsellors are doing their best. But the reality is, many of our boys come from high-risk communities. Incidents like these aren’t rare. It’s hard to keep them focused on their goals when violence is always just around the corner.”

Editor's Note: This is an update to an earlier story which was published online and can be read at:

https://newsday.co.tt/2025/05/15/maloney-teen-takes-turn-for-the-worse/

This story was originally published with the title "Maloney teen takes turn for the worse" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

SEVENTEEN-year-old Zwade Alleyne, a promising footballer from Arima North Secondary School, has taken a turn for the worse following a tragic shooting.

Doctors at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex have reported a significant slowing of his heart rate and have advised the family, now gathered at his bedside, to prepare for the worst.

Alleyne was struck by a stray bullet just metres away from the front door of his Building 12 home in Maloney Gardens on May 10. The bullet entered near his left ear and exited through the back of his head. He has remained in critical condition since the shooting.

In a sombre phone interview with Newsday, Alleyne’s uncle, Keron Bethelmy, shared the heart-wrenching update. Speaking in a subdued tone, he said, “He’s still alive.”

Despite the devastating prognosis, Bethelmy remains hopeful that God will intervene and pull his nephew through.

“I don’t give up, but at the same time, let God’s will be done.”

Bethelmy praised the medical staff for their efforts and professionalism.

“Doctors really tried. They explored all avenues of care. I must say, they were very pleasant and extremely professional.”

Regardless of the outcome, Bethelmy confirmed that a planned Prayer and Peace Walk, organised by the family, will still take place on May 18, beginning at the Arima Velodrome.

Calling for national unity and compassion, Bethelmy appealed to the people of TT to respond to rising violence with love.

“As a nation, we need to fight back, not with violence, but with our humanity. Love is the only force powerful enough to drive out the hate we’re seeing in this country.”

He acknowledged the deep-rooted issues some young people faced, often beginning at home.

“Some of these young men are going out there with no conscience. A lot of it starts at home, with how they’re treated by parents. Parenting plays a big role.”

Bethelmy emphasised a return to moral and spiritual values.

“We need to get back to the humanistic side, because God made us with love. When we stop loving, it’s like a dysfunctional body. Anything can happen when the body doesn’t breathe love.”

He ended with a heartfelt plea for spiritual healing in the nation.

“I only love because the love I know comes from Jesus Christ. Until men come to Christ, the world and this country won’t change. Even if the violence is right at your front door.”