‘I did what any mother would do’

“I did what any mother would do.” Maternal instinct drove Onika Stoute, 20, to turn herself into a human shield in order to protect the life of her only child, two-month-old baby girl, Timika Stoute.

Yesterday, when Newsday interviewed a recovering Stoute from her hospital bed, she appeared to have mixed emotions about the drama at her Laventille home, which claimed the life of her 18-year-old brother Him Demanie Rudolph Stoute, wounded her right shoulder, but left her innocent child unharmed. “My brother did not deserve to be killed because he was just an NHA worker,” said the grieving woman. She added with relief, “But I am happy that my child is alive and well, and very soon I will be able to cuddle her again.”

Stoute, who was shot in the right shoulder, is well on her way to recovery and has been listed in stable condition. Doctors carried out emergency surgery on Tuesday and removed the bullet lodged in her shoulder. They anticipate that she will be discharged from hospital shortly. Emotionally, Stoute was clear that she did what she had to do to save her daughter, and vowed she would do it again even if it meant being killed in the process. “I did what any mother would do, and I am happy that my baby is alive,” said Stoute. She expressed outrage over the murder of her brother and called on the police to find the persons responsible for his death. She is also convinced that the persons who killed her brother carried out the brutal act because they were angry with him for not teaming up with criminal elements in the area. As she was comforted by her father Russel Hernandez, Stoute said that she is only sorry that she was unable to save the life of her brother.

Onika claimed that Demanie, the baby and herself were all asleep in the house at Pashley Street, Laventille early on Tuesday, when gunmen stormed the house. Two gunmen who entered the house accused Demanie of killing one of their friends on May 11. This was hotly denied by Stoute who said that her brother was not a killer. Police said the gunmen fired three shots which shattered three windows and struck Onika in the shoulder, who remembers throwing herself on Timika, shielding her from the bullets. When the gunmen fled the scene, Onika, bleeding, ran outside seeking assistance, met a neighbour and asked him to take her to hospital. She then returned inside with the neighbour who took baby Timika into his care. Her brother was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Baby Timika is being cared for by relatives. Police investigators said yesterday that Him Stoute was a member of a Laventille gang, which is responsible for several gang related shootings.