Dad of 3 gunned down in Laventille

Undertakers took more than three hours to retrieve the body of a man shot dead at Rock City in Laventille. His body was dumped 100 feet down a precipice a short distance away from his home. Kenrick Lawrence, alias “Rico,” a 27-year-old father of three, was lured to his death on Thursday night at Rock City, Laventille. Police believe the 108th murder for 2004 was gang related and linked to the shooting death of a Laventille man earlier this week. Lawrence’s body was yesterday discovered down a precipice a short distance away from his home by his common-law wife Genieva Taylor. Police reports revealed that around 8.30 pm, residents of Rock City heard several loud explosions and contacted the Besson Street Police.

Officers went to the scene but found nothing. Around 9 am yesterday, Taylor and relatives went in search of Lawrence and saw his black slippers near a precipice. They also found a pool of blood. Lawrence’s body was discovered down the precipice. A party of officers led by acting Snr Supt Errol Denoon, ASP Julie Carrington, acting Insp Sahadeo Singh and Sgt Edwards, along with District Medical Officer Dr Althea Holder, went to the scene. Undertakers took three hours to retrieve the body because of its location. Taylor told investigators that around 8.30 pm on Thursday, she was at home with Lawrence and their two children, ages five and three, when someone called out to Lawrence.

Taylor said Lawrence told her he was going out for a short while. She said that she heard the gunshots and became worried when Lawrence failed to return home. A grieving Taylor cried uncontrollably at the crime scene. An initial check by the DMO revealed that Lawrence was shot once in the back of the head. Tricia Camphbell, the mother of a three-year-old child which she had with Lawrence, collapsed at the murder scene. Both Taylor and Camphbell described Lawrence as a good father and a good man. Police investigators told Newsday that Lawrence had matters pending in court for firearm offences and robbery. He was released from prison on May 21 this year after serving 11 months for robbery. He was a member of a notorious gang and was wanted for questioning into several shootings and killings. Sgt Edwards of the Besson Street Police Station is investigating.