Breath of fresh air turned deadly for Laventille teen girl

A STEP outside her Laventille home, after losing a game of All Fours on Monday night, to get a breath of fresh air turned deadly for a 13-year-old girl who was fatally shot by armed men, reportedly gunning for a Muslim man.

Joanna “Sookie” Walker, of Mentor Alley, was due to enter Form Two at Mucurapo Junior Secondary School, and was one of three women shot in the melee which occurred around 8.45 pm.  She was shot once in the hip. Her death brings to 15 the number of teenagers to die violent deaths in 2003. Of the 15, 12 were shot to death, statistics show, while three were stabbed. She is also the second teen to be killed in the past two days, the last being Vernol De Bique, whose body was found in a cesspit at Dundonald Hill, Long Circular, on Monday. Walker, 13, died around 10.30 pm while undergoing surgery at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH), while 21-year-old hairdresser Adeola Graham, of Village Council Street, is said to be in serious condition at the same institution. Graham was shot four times, while her 22-year-old friend, Giselle Bobb, also of Village Council Street, was treated and discharged from the city hospital after she was bullet-grazed on one foot.

A 23-year-old Laventille man was up to late evening assisting officers of the Besson Street Criminal Investigations Department (CID) with their investigations.  He is expected to be placed on identification parades, police said. Walker’s killing was one of three which occurred on Monday night, the others being auto electrician Deryck Sadees, and Chaguanas businessman Gerard Punch. Police said Walker had just finished losing a game of All Fours with family members.   The teenager then went outside her home, after which several gunshots were heard by family members and residents. Graham and Bobb who were in close proximity were also injured and all three were taken to the city hospital via an Army van which was also in the area. A report was later made and a party of officers headed by ASP Alfred Sealy and including Cpls Reuben Alleyne and Sookdeo responded to the call and seized several spent shells from the scene. Police said the three females were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, since they received information that the armed men were hunting for a Muslim man, as part of the ongoing gang-related violence in Laventille.

Walker’s parents, Ancil and Marilyn Walker-Skinner, were in extreme grief at the Forensic Science Centre yesterday, but appeared to be coping. Ancil Skinner told Newsday he was electioneering most of Monday, and returned home just after 6 pm to watch the results on the television. He said Walker was playing cards with other sisters.  He said she lost the game of All Fours and decided to go outside her house for a “breath of fresh air.” Ancil said he then heard about 30 gunshots.  He said he was too afraid to go outside, but that another of his daughters, Janelle Walker, went to close a door and saw her sister lying on the ground. “We ran out, we took her up and brought her to the house but she said nothing.  The Army then took her to the hospital,” Ancil, father of six, said.