UWI students worried after deadly shooting

In a media release, The UWI stated that a shooting did indeed take place near the eastern quadrant of the compound, but no student or staff member were involved.

Sunday Newsday spoke to several UWI students who said that they heard the sound of gunfire while inside the compound. The students who asked not to be identified, said that the incident left them shaken, as it took place so close to the compound. “We were in the Administration building when we heard something like firecrackers. It was only after when we came out the compound we saw that there were police in one of the side street behind the campus,” a student said. She added that while they were relieved that no students were involved in this shooting, the incident has caused concern among much of the student body.

“It’s not something that we’re used to around here. Of course we’re advised not to walk in lonely or secluded areas after dark on campus, but to know that this took place in broad daylight, literally just across the road from us, it really changes things.” Sunday Newsday contacted President of the UWI St Augustine’s Student Guild, Makesi Peters, who said that mere hours after the shooting took place an emergency meeting with members of administration was held, to discuss the incident and the necessary security measures to be implemented.

Peters added that students who occupied living quarters just adjacent to the scene of the shooting were particularly concerned.

“Even before this shooting took place, there has been a reinforced presence of campus security. All of the main points of entry are adequately manned to ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors.

This is the first time in a long while something like this has happened in the area and it is indeed cause for concern among the student body,” Peters said.

According to reports, the shooting took place at 10.30 am. Police said Andre ‘’Lizard’’ McGregor was liming with three other men at the corner of O’Keefe and Dass streets in Monte Grande, Tunapuna, when a silver-coloured panel van and a white Nissan Tiida drove near the group of limers.

Occupants alighted from the vehicles and shot the limers. All four men were rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EW MSC) in Mt Hope where they were warded in critical condition.

Early Friday morning, 19-year-old Kadeem Griffith succumbed to his injuries. Officers of the Tunapuna Police station are conducting further investigations into the shooting.

No arrest has been made.