Youth shot dead at fete

WHEN 18-year-old Kevin Cato of Cunupia put on his red clothes on Saturday night to attend the Outrageous in Red fete at Pier 1, Chaguaramas, he would not have known that his own blood would flow at the fete. Cato, who was part of a group of 13 friends from Cunupia and Longdenville, was shot twice in the middle of a massive jumping, wining, shouting crowd at Pier 1, by an off-duty police detective, following an altercation between the officer, Cato and Ryan Solomon, 23. According to reports, the policeman slapped Solomon who retaliated by slapping him back. When Cato tried to cool things down, the policeman took out his gun and fired twice hitting Cato at point blank range. The bullets entered Cato’s torso with one exiting his body and striking Solomon in his chest. Cato was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead-on-arrival. Solomon remains warded in stable condition.

Yesterday, Supt Errol Denoon, who was assigned to investigate the incident,  was unable to locate the policeman who reportedly fired the fatal shot. The officer’s family was reported to have told investigators he was traumatised and receiving treatment and would be available today. Four Roads police told Newsday they were instructed not to release any information on the fatal shooting. ACP Oswyn Allard, Snr Supt Lennox Gonzales and other police visited the scene. According to reports, around 3.45 am, the crowd of about 8,000 people scampered wildly to get away from the scene when Cato and Solomon collapsed after being shot. However, several persons stayed on to render assistance to the two men. The fete came to an immediate end as patrons looked on in shock when the two were led away to hospital. Cato’s friends were in total shock over the incident and demanded justice.

They called on other patrons at the fete to come forward and give statements on the shootings. Cato died almost immediately after being shot twice by the detective who was carrying out an extra duty at the fete with another detective. Reports revealed that around 3.45 am yesterday, the detective reportedly became enraged after Solomon accidentally bounced the detective while soca singer Maga Dan was singing his hit song “High.” An eyewitness claimed the officer slapped Solomon, who retaliated by slapping back the detective. A struggle ensued and Cato went to the rescue of Solomon. The officer reportedly pulled out his gun and fired two shots striking Cato in the abdomen. One of the bullets exited Cato’s body and struck Solomon in the chest. The officer reportedly fled the scene after the shooting. Friends of the dead man alerted the driver of an open tray van who took Cato to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The news Cato’s death plunged residents of Chin Chin Road, Cunupia where he lived, into a state of shock and outrage. Cato’s grieving father was comforted by friends outside his home as he wept openly.

Marilyn Cato said her son, who worked as a salesman at Holiday Foods, was a loving child and was never involved in trouble. She said that her son did not say he was going to the fete and sneaked out of the house on Saturday. The grieving woman who said she still could not believe her son was dead, is now demanding swift justice. She told Newsday she was sure her son’s death would be covered up by the police but she is still calling on investigators to ensure that the matter is properly investigated and ensure the person responsible for taking her son’s life felt the full brunt of the law. Marc Fermin, an eyewitness to the shooting, said he Cato and 11 other friends planned to attend the fete a week ago. They were supposed to spend yesterday celebrating the birthday of another friend. At the Longdenville home of Solomon, relatives said he was resting in stable condition at hospital. They also insisted that the matter be pursued and vowed they will leave no stone unturned. Newsday learnt that 35 police officers carried out duty at the fete. Metal detectors were also used at the fete.

Pier 1 manager sorry over teen’s death

By CAROL QUASH

PIER 1’s general manager Colin Mitchell has expressed regret at the fatal shooting of Kevin Cato, which occurred at the establishment’s second annual Outrag-eous in Red fete early yesterday morning. The fete was promoted by Hot 93 FM in collaboration with Village Promotions — headed by Cliff Harris. According to Mitchell, Pier 1, which he said prided itself on its safety precautions, adhered to all security measures mandated by law. 

Approximately 35 police officers, 10 Pier 1 security officers and additional security contracted by Village Promotions were deployed at the fete, Mitchell said. He added that this was the first time an incident of this magnitude occurred at the establishment in the many years it has been hosting events of this nature. Some of the artistes who performed at the fete included Maximus Dan, Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon, Destra Garcia, Bunji Garlin, Atlantic and Imij and Company. Despite the gravity of the incident, Mitchell said all other Pier 1 events, including Bazodee Friday, were expected to go on as scheduled. Personnel at Hot 93 FM refused to comment on the incident and efforts to contact Harris proved futile.