[UPDATED] Relative: Santa Cruz shooting victims not dead

A relative of one of the three people shot in Santa Cruz on October 3 is denying reports they have died.

Nakita Robinson, 35, Carrington Toussaint, 34, and Junior Walcott, 45 were shot at around 7.30 pm while liming near a shop in La Canoe Road.

Reports on social media said Toussaint and Walcott were killed, however, a relative told Newsday this is not true and the both men are warded at hospital.

She said both men underwent emergency surgery last night and up till this morning were still alive.

The relative said Walcott, though, remains critical, while Toussaint was shot in his chest and leg and has a broken leg as a result of the shooting.

Police reports say the victims were standing on the corner of Robinson Lane and Barnes Avenue with several other people when a white Nissan Tiida motor vehicle pulled up nearby.

A gunman came out and fired several shots at the group of people.

The relative said video footage showed the gunman stood over one of the victims who fell and shot at him again before getting back into the car which then drove off.

She was unable to say what may have led to the shooting but said gang violence and drug wars have been plaguing Santa Cruz for years.

“Is always the same thing. Them youths and them fighting over gang thing and drugs. They will just kill out each other until somebody win the battle for the turf.”

She said Santa Cruz is filled with lots of extended families that have been torn apart by crime in the area.

She said she had lost a few male relatives to gun violence, some of whom were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Recounting an incident last year she said two male relatives were just out liming when they were murdered by gunmen.

Another relative, she said, was killed after getting himself involved in the gang life.

She said it was “just a matter of time” before he died.

“He received threats in the days leading up to his death. There were voice notes with the threats and them posting things (on social media) telling him that they are coming for him.”

Councillor for Santa Cruz/Maracas/La Fillette Israel Joseph Charles weighed in saying crime continues to plague the country because people refuse to speak up.

“We are looking at those who break the law but we don’t want to look at those who know what’s happening but saying nothing or doing nothing about it.”

He likened the issue of crime to garbage at the side of the road.

“People take garbage from their home and put it at the side of the road for the rubbish truck. Everyone knows whose dogs are straying on the road, and yet still those dogs come and mess up the road, burst the bags and the place is unsanitary. It is the same thing with crime. Everybody knows where the guns are, who is moving the drugs and what’s happening and yet nobody wants to fix the problem.”

Charles said people keep blaming the government for the crime situation without looking at what they can do to address it.

“Every household has a responsibility to deal with their garbage and deal with the crime.”

He said the situation may not be resolved until there are consequences for people who have that kind of information and choose not to share it with the police.

“You cannot have a gun, drugs and illegal activity in your home and nobody in the community is held accountable for knowing and not saying anything.”

“When the garbage is removed, the roaches, flies, rats, snakes, manicou, dogs, fowls and everything that is accustomed feasting on the garbage will now find somewhere to go. They will go into people’s yards and homes and it is the same thing with crime.

“Some people are not dealing with it because there are no consequences.”

Charles said people who choose to say nothing are silently aiding and abetting but social institutions need to also play their part.

“If the police don’t know either, then we have a serious problem with the intelligence (gathering process). And if the churches don’t know, then we have a serious problem with religion. These are the institutions that are supposed to safeguard us and they keep talking about the youths and the youths.”

He said there must be more mechanisms in place to assist young men who decide to turn away from this life of crime.

“Right now I am trying to assist young people to get jobs but a lot of them don’t know where to get their ID card. They don’t even have a birth paper or a bank account.”

Charles warned there will be no change until people begin to face consequences for their crimes or inaction.

“A lot of young people don’t understand there are consequences for actions. That is one of the biggest problems we have in this country. A lack of consequences. So everybody think they can do what they want and get away with it. And they seem to be getting away with it so they just continue.”

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A family member of one of two men shot in Santa Cruz on October 3 is denying reports the men were killed.

The men, known only by the names Carrington and Cocoa, were shot at around 8 pm while liming at a shop along La Canoa Road.

Reports on social media said both men were killed, however, a relative told Newsday this is not true and they are warded at hospital.

She said both men underwent emergency surgery last night and up till this morning were still alive.

The relative said Cocoa, though, remains in a critical condition, while Carrington was shot in his chest and leg and suffered a broken leg as a result of the shooting.