Marabella man gunned down

IN WHAT police say was a revenge ‘hit,’ a 24-year-old Marabella man, Azuko Moyo,  was dragged from under a bed where he was hiding and gunned down during the early hours yesterday. Another man, Christopher Dopson who was also hiding under the bed, was shot three times and remains warded in serious condition at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH). Police investigating the murder of Azuko Moyo, believe his execution was in retaliation of the shooting of a Port-of-Spain man, who was attacked in a taxi in Marabella and remains warded at hospital.

Moyo’s death brings the number of persons murdered in the country to 81 so far this year. He is also the seventh murder victim since Good Friday.   According to police reports, Moyo and a female friend were asleep in the wooden shack of a friend located not far from Moyo’s Frederick Street, Marabella home. Also in the house at the time, police said, were another woman and Christopher Dopson of Arima. According to police, around 2 am, three gunmen wearing dark clothing and their faces hidden behind bandanas broke down the front door and entered the house.  On hearing the noise Moyo, his female friend and Dopson, all crawled under a bed to hide.

However, the gunmen found the trio and dragged them  from under the bed. The gunmen ordered the three to lie on the floor and then opened fire, hitting Moyo three times about his head and chest.  Moyo who tried to flee, collapsed on the bed where he died. Before escaping in a car, Moyo’s killers opened fire at Dopson who was shot three times about his leg, chest and back. The other occupants in the house escaped unharmed. Police are investigating a report that three hours prior to  Moyo’s execution, he was involved in an attack on a Port-of-Spain man who was shot in a taxi along the Southern Main Road in Marabella.

Police sources told Newsday that Moyo and a relative were charged with robbing the Couva branch of First Citizens Bank in 2003. During that robbery, a senior policeman who was off-duty at the time, was shot in the hand. Visiting the murder scene yesterday were Snr Supt Nadir Mohammed, Supt Krishna Maharaj, ASP Valdez and Sgts Celestine Phillip and David Cooper. DMO Dr Halcampee viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Forensic Sciences Centre in St James where an autopsy was scheduled for yesterday. Deputy San Fernando Mayor Malika Blair was speaking to Moyo’s bereaved family, when Newsday arrived at the house yesterday.

“This is part of my electoral district. I did not know the victim but I know his family,” Blair said. Moyo’s uncle, Omo Moyo, described his nephew as a “good person who was good to his family.” Omo said he was awakened yesterday morning by the screams of his nephew’s female friend who was shouting,  “Azuko get shot!” Villagers who spoke to Newsday described the dead man as a “champion lover” and gangster. A villager also described the dead man as a “menace in the area and bully.” Up to late yesterday no arrests had been made and Sgt Phillip is continuing investigations.