Man unable to attend brother’s funeral

“He did not get to come to the funeral because I heard police had him at (Sangre) Grande.

He could have lost his life. It could have been him in that box (coffin),” said the siblings’ 70-year-old father Andrew.

Smith, also known as Shaka, of Piparo Road, Tabaquite, was shot and killed by officers of the Eastern Division on Thursday night in Rio Claro. Smith had gone to rescue the now detained brother from gunmen in a forested area in Rio Claro. Instead, on arrival, he was shot and killed by police and died en-route to the Rio Claro Health Facility.

He was buried at the Tabaquite Public Cemetery following a funeral service at his home.

“It was because of him Shaka went to assist, but God is love and everything will work out,” the father added.

Police arrested the 34-year-old brother on Sunday afternoon at the family’s home.

Relatives said that while at his home, the younger brother telephoned Smith saying he was hiding in a forested area from gunmen who ambushed him. As such, Smith went in search of his brother when tragedy struck. Police however said that they were responding to a robbery and on reaching Tabaquite Road, Rio Claro, the occupant (Smith) of a vehicle fired at police who returned fire killing him.

Investigations are continuing and up to yesterday, the brother remained in custody.