MURDER ENTERPRISE

In the latest blood-letting, a man was shot yesterday morning and died later at a health centre. Then on Monday night, another man was gunned down while attending the wake for Sylvan Alexis, who was shot dead last Friday in Enterprise.

In the Monday night incident, father of three Patrick Isles of Southern Main Road, Enterprise was shot dead shortly after 10 pm, while at the wake held for Alexis, 60. Police said a gunman opened fire at persons assembled in the yard of Alexis’ Francois Street home. As the gunman ran off, persons spotted Isles slumped on the ground.

He died not too far from where Alexis was shot dead last Friday.

Fellow mourners Selwyn Warner and Roy Brown, both of Enterprise, were shot but escaped with their lives. At the time, Warner was assisting with lighting flambeaux along the roadside. Brown who lives a stone’s throw away along Francois Street, sustained two gunshots while sitting in an unfinished room at his home. Both were taken to the Chaguanas District Health Facility and subsequently transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope.

Isles’ mother, who asked not to be identified, wept yesterday at the family’s home. Relatives said although they learned of Isles’ death on Monday night, they waited until yesterday morning to break the news to the woman.

Isles’ gold chain was recovered at the scene and yesterday handed over to his mother.

“This morning they (police) bring the gold chain for me. I said, ‘put that chain around my neck’. My only boy child...my last. Right now, I am just hearing things (about the shooting) just like everyone else,” she said.

Brown recalled that at about 7 pm, he locked the front gate and went to watch television. Shortly after 10 pm, he went to the entrance of the house to look outside, “to see what was going on.” Without warning, gunshots rang out, “and then I felt a burning sensation and threw myself to the ground. I don’t know what happened out there. The place got quiet and when I look, I saw a body on the road. I started to bawl and those who heard me, came and assisted. They took me to the hospital and that was it,” Brown said. A bullet entered and exited his right hand, while another entered his left leg where it remains lodged.

In the second shooting incident, at 11 am yesterday, gunshots were heard along Joseph Street near African Ground.

Resident contacted the police and when officers arrived, they found Dillon “Fox” Grant gasping for breath in a neighbour’s yard. Grant who was originally from Cunupia, was taken to the Chaguanas Health Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Grant, 32, moved into Enterprise two months ago with his wife Kimberly Jaikaran and their young son. Police believe a recent feud between a female relative and a man in which Grant intervened, was the reason for him being shot dead.

In Enterprise yesterday, an uneasy calm had settled on the community as heavily armed policemen, some wearing masks, were seen on patrol.

Residents said they are fearing more bloodshed as rival gangs battle each other for control of the area to run their crime business.

Both residents and police said rumours were rampant of other murders being committed in Enterprise yesterday.