Police remain puzzled over schoolboy shooting

POLICE remain puzzled over the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting yesterday of teenaged student Ricardo Mayers, and are still trying to determine whether his death was accidental, or murder. “From all indications it appears Mayers and another person were playing with a gun when it went off. We are however keeping the investigations open,” police sources told Newsday. According to the police, around 2.30 pm residents of Spring Valley Road, Upper Mt D’Or Road, Champ Fleurs, were alerted by an explosion coming from an abandoned house on the hill. When they investigated, the body of Mayers, 15, was found lying on the ground with a bullet wound to the right side of his head.

Mayers was a Form Four student at the Arima Senior Comprehensive School. When Newsday visited the area, the teen’s uncle, Sheldon Richards, could shed no light on what took place. Mayers lived at home with his uncle and other relatives. “We were home when a neighbour came and said Ricardo was shot. I ran to the house where I found him dead.” When contacted, police said the information was confusing and they would have to dig deeper before they could conclude murder or accident. They would also have to find out where the gun came from. The weapon has not been recovered, but a 15-year-old youth is assisting police with their enquiries. Sgt Worrell is investigating.