Boy, 15, shot dead by relative

According to police at about 5.30 pm on Friday, 15-year-old Josiah Martinez was at his home at light pole #55, Peaceville, Upper Seventh Street, Malick, Barataria when he got into an altercation with a 59 year-old male relative.

The male relative drew a firearm and shot Martinez repeatedly, hitting him several times about the body. Martinez’s mother, 37-yearold Keisha Ettiene, witnessed the incident and physically struggled with the male relative but he was able to run away. Martinez was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital but died will undergoing treatment. The male relative, a retired employee of the Water and Sewerage Authority, remained on the run from the police up to news time. Police report that the altercation stemmed from a previous argument between the two on December 13.

When the media visited the home yesterday a relative said that Martinez’s mother was too distraught to speak and no one else would be able to do so.

A male resident of the community who asked not to be named said he was surprised at the incident as the male relative “loved children”.

He said, however, that the man had went through “too much pressure” and that Martinez had repeatedly disrespected him. He also claimed the two had a physical altercation recently, which may be the previous incident referred to by the police. Another male resident said Martinez and the male relative have been having problems “for years”.

Homicide is continuing investigations.