One killed, baby, mother shot, three others wounded

A 20-year-old woman and her two-year-old son who were used as human shields during a shooting attack at a basketball court on Friday night, suffered gunshot injuries but miraculously survived. Mark Granger, the man who used them as human shields was shot dead, his twin brother Matthew was seriously wounded, and two teenagers were also injured in the bloody attack. The shootings took place around 9 pm on Friday at the basketball  court located a stone’s throw away from the St Barb’s Police Station. An eyewitness to the incident told Sunday Newsday that when the gunmen started shooting in the direction of the Granger brothers, Crystal Best who had her two-year-old son in her arms was used as a human shield by Mark. The eyewitness added that when Crystal slumped to the ground and fell, Mark was shot several times about the body and died within minutes. Yesterday, residents of St Barb’s described the killing as a planned hit and expressed outrage over the shooting of innocent persons. Rondell Harbin, the two-year-old toddler shot twice, underwent emergency surgery at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex yesterday, to remove bullets from his upper right shoulder and right hand.

His mother Crystal,  20, was listed in stable condition at ward 14 of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Andy Best, a relative of Crystal said that Crystal took Rondell with her on Friday to witness a basketball match. He added that around 9 pm, the two were sitting close to twin brothers Matthew and Mark Granger when two gunmen entered through the back gate, surveyed the group witnessing the basketball match and then opened fire with automatic guns. The shooting attack sent everyone scampering. When the smoke cleared, Mark Granger was discovered to be dead, his brother Matthew suffered several gunshots about the body, Best and the toddler were also discovered to have suffered gunshot injuries, while Imerobe Hutchinson, 15, was shot in the right foot and lower back, and Jameela Sealey, 16, was shot in the right leg. Jameela was discharged from hospital yesterday and was shielded by relatives at her Boxhill Trace home. Worried relatives claimed that Jameela was too shaken up from the incident to speak. At the home of the Grangers, Ian Granger, a brother of the deceased said that his two brothers left home Friday night to witness the basketball match. He added that his brothers were not part of any gang, but smoked. The grieving man claimed that his brothers never troubled anyone and he is unsure why they were targeted by the gunmen. On May 13 last year, both brothers were shot by gunmen outside their home at Village Council Trace, St Barb’s.

In that incident the two were standing in front of Firehouse Cafe, when they were confronted by a gunman who fired several shots at them, which landed them in hospital. Yesterday, ASP Alfred Sealey returned to the scene of the shootings and carried out inquiries. Several persons standing next to the basketball court were searched. Investigators said yesterday that they have received key information about the shootings and shooting death. They claimed that arrests are imminent. St Barb’s residents said yesterday that the situation in Laventille seems to be out of control and they called on the authorities to do something to prevent innocent persons being killed. Up until yesterday 107 persons were killed for the year so far. Cpl Bridgeman of the Besson Street Police Station is investigating.