Diego man gunned down

According to reports, Attima Fredericks, 22, alias "Bow" of Upper Factory Road, Diego Martin, left Khan Supermarket and Liquor store at the corner of Richplain and Diego Martin Main Road through the back door with two beers in his hand. He was then greeted by two masked men who uttered the Muslim greetings "Assalam-O-Alaikum" (peace be with you), to which a relative standing nearby responded, "Wa Alaikum Assalam (unto you be peace).

Not bothered by the situation, and thinking the men were about to commit a robbery, Fredericks began walking in a westerly direction, where he was joined by other men, when the masked men started shooting. The unemployed, part-time dog-trainer ran into a nearby yard and hid in an annex, where he was followed by the men who shot him dead.

Police were contacted and recovered six spent shells. The DMO visited the scene and ordered the body removed to the Forensic Science Centre for autopsy.

Police confirmed that Fredericks had a history of taking drugs to sell on consignment, and using the drugs himself without paying. He was also a known bully, and police are investigating the possibility that the bullet was meant for someone else, and that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Police also lamented the fact that although the shooting took place at 8.30 pm in a bright corner where there is always a "lime," especially at a pub next door where Fredericks frequents, no witnesses have come forward.

A traumatised Ronald Fredericks, father of the dead man, also expressed concern that people who claimed to be his son’s friends were unwilling to come forward..

"I had often warned Fredericks about these fellas he called friends, but he would not listen. Now these same so-called friends who ran when he was killed are not coming forward.

"If my son had listened, he would be alive. He had already kicked his drug habit, had cleaned himself up and was about to start a job next week."

A distressed Margaret Skeet, Fredericks’ mother, who collapsed at the scene of the shooting after the undertakers removed the body, said she often spoke to him about the company he kept.

Unable to come to terms with her son’s killing, Skeet said she was going to see about her son, whom she believed had reached home by that time.

Fredericks’ murder is the 116th in 133 days. Eighty-nine people were reported murdered during the same period last year.

An autopsy confirmed that Fredericks was shot six times and died from haemorrhaging consistent with gunshots.

Visiting the scene were ASP Cadette, Insp Lezama, Sgt Martin, Cpl Marcelle, Constables Martin and Samuel. Cpl Marcelle is investigating.