They were not criminals

Family members of 22-year-old Terrence Patrick, who was killed on Friday in Enterprise, and 23-yearold Randy Alexander, who was killed in Diego Martin, spoke to reporters yesterday while awaiting the results of an autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

They say both men were wrongly represented in earlier reports.

Patrick was one of two people shot dead on Friday at his home at John Street, Enterprise, Laventille.

The second man killed was identified as Christian Mohammed. Two other people shot in the incident were treated at hospital and have since been discharged.

Contrary to earlier reports which indicated that Patrick was a member of a gang operating out of the Enterprise area, relatives described him as a peaceful, God-fearing, practising Muslim.

“Police keep labelling Muslims in Enterprise,” said one relative. “As soon as they hear you are a Muslim, they assume you are in a gang.

He never interfered with anyone.” Relatives yesterday told Newsday that Patrick, a self-employed man, was liming with three other friends on Friday afternoon when their house was attacked by gunmen.

They said they felt the men were sent to kill everyone in the house.

“There were 15 of us in the house at the time, including six children.

We have been receiving threats for over two months.” In Alexander’s case, a relative said he was never charged or jailed for any offence.

“Why police say he was known to them is because gangsters attacked him,” said one relative.

After he was attacked in Diego Martin, he moved to Petit Valley where he was later shot and his leg had to be amputated. Relatives said he was under police protection for a number of years but grew tired of hiding and eventually moved back to Diego Martin. On Friday night at about 9.30 pm, Alexander was sitting in the gallery of his Farm Road, Richplain home with a neighbour. The neighbour got up and went inside. Just then gunshots were heard. When the neighbour returned, Alexander was found slumped over a chair. Relatives described Alexander, a father of one, as a loving man