Man killed on eve of birthday

A 24-year-old man of Scorpion Alley, Carenage, received 53 gunshot wounds and died Tuesday night, the eve of his 24th birthday.

Police described the shooting death as one of the most brutal and bloodiest they have encountered for the year so far.

The victim Antonio “Topper” Spalding, a father of one was at his home at about 9.30 pm on Tuesday when he was confronted by three masked men.

The men broke down a door leading to the living room where Spalding was sitting. Several loud explosions were heard and Spalding was found slumped in a chair bleeding profusely from the back.

An eyewitness told Newsday that the killers fled the scene by running down the hill and into a waiting vehicle. The eyewitness said that Carenage Police were contacted and they went to the scene along with a District Medical Officer. The body was viewed and a check revealed that Spalding was shot several times in the back.

An autopsy carried out yesterday revealed that Spalding suffered 53 gunshot wounds. His girlfriend Nakifa said yesterday that her boyfriend was not involved in any gang related activities.

She said that she has no idea why Spalding was killed, and called on the police to ensure that the killers are found.

Nakifa added that several fathers were being killed and children of the victims were the ones left to suffer.

Neighbours of the dead man expressed horror over the killing and called on the Government to put in place measures to deal with the murders.

Up until yesterday, 125 people were murdered.