FORMER murder accused/kidnapper Joel “Joey” Jeremy was gunned on Tuesday night on Trainline Avenue, Pinto Road, Arima, in what police believe is a gang-related revenge killing. Gang leader Jeremy, 26, is believed to be responsible for the kidnapping of another druglord, Richard Francis from Calvary Hill, Arima, last November. He has not been seen since. Police also believe the January kidnapping of Jeremy’s associate Sherwin Pierre, an alleged drug dealer of Wall Street, Arima, who has not been seen since, is also related to the Calvary Hill, Arima kidnapping. Jeremy was also a suspect in several other kidnappings, murders, robberies and drug offences. The man also had several minor drug possession charges in several courts throughout TT.

According to reports, at around 8.30 pm Jeremy was plying his retail business (cigarettes, matches, papers, sweets etc.) on Trainline Avenue when a gunman came up behind him and fired several shots, hitting him in the arm, back and head. The gunman then calmly walked away. Shocked residents ran to the scene where they found the lifeless man lying in a pool of blood. Jeremy was released from prison two years ago after being found not guilty on a murder charge. Newsday’s investigations revealed that Jeremy was under constant police surveillance because it was suspected his business was a cover-up for the drug trade.

And during a lapse in that surveillance, he was shot. When Newsday visited his Wall Street, Pinto Road, Arima home, his distressed mother Oathylia Jeremy  called for justice. “My son had changed his ways and was turning over a new leaf. He did not deserve to die so. “I went to see him next door but he had left home around 6.30 pm to go and sell as he normally does. The next thing I heard my son was shot dead. “At first I ran up the road, then to Trainline where he was lying dead on the ground. I have heard all kind of gossip about gangs and other things since his death, but I know that was not true. Joey was a cool person who had changed his lifestyle. “I cannot come to terms with his murder and I demand justice. I don’t want anyone killed, but I want my son’s killer to be brought to justice and let the law deal with them.” Jeremy was the eighth of ten children. His brother, Wendell “Ratty” Jeremy, who was co-charged with Joel for murder four years ago, is still imprisoned for it.

When Newsday spoke to residents of the area, they spoke of a life of crime, drugs, threats and hell from the dead gang leader. “Joel and his gang wanted quick money but they did not want to work. “They considered work slavery. On several occasions, they harassed the councillor for the area for Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) and Community Environment Protection Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) gangs and when she refused or offered them labourer work instead, she was threatened.

These guys made their money by robbing other drugs blocks and selling the loot, robbing citizens, shooting and doing paid hit jobs. “They took what they wanted without asking, having people fear them. “The death of Joey might be hurtful to the family but it is joy to us,” ended the resident. An autopsy confirmed death from haemorrhaging consistent with five shots to the body. Police sources supported the view that Joey was a pest and a criminal. Cpl Roger Riley is investigating.