Tranquil student gunned down

Grant, 16, died on Sunday night at Port-of-Spain General Hospital while in emergency surgery for gunshot wounds. He would have begun fourth form classes at the start of the new school year yesterday.

Instead, he became the country’s 256th murder victim. Grant was shot along with Yannik Compton, 22, at the corner of Callendar and Herbert Cox streets, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain on Sunday evening.

Police report that about 6.30 pm, the teenager and Compton were standing at the corner when two gunmen opened fire on them.

Grant was shot in the back and Compton got hit in his upper body.

While Grant died during surgery, Compton succumbed to his injuries yesterday morning.

No suspects have been held. The Homicide Bureau of Investigations is continuing inquiries.

Their deaths occurred hours after a peace march in Port-of-Spain to protest the high crime rate in the capital and neighbouring communities.

The victims’ irate relatives and neighbours claimed grant and Compton had gone for a trim and vowed to take matters into their own hands.

Grant’s father Vernon spoke about how he would have started Form Four yesterday.

“Kyle went for a trim and I was surprised to receive that call this morning. He was supposed to go and live with his aunt in St James, last Friday,” Grant told Newsday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James.

Grant said his son loved to stay at home and watch DVD movies every Sunday.

“I still have the DVDs in my bag. I bought the movies so he would stay off the street,” Grant explained.

Compton’s relatives declined to comment.

However, neighbours said they are willing to take revenge, saying they knew the gunmen.

“What is happening to our children? This will make mothers take up guns also, knowing that your children die innocently,” one neighbour said angrily.

“We see the men brandishing guns and showing it to our children and the police do not do anything when you tell them.” They said Compton spent his weekends playing Bingo with friends.