‘Dion’s murder unforgivable’

These were the words of relatives of 16-year-old Dion Atkins aka Choonkie at the Forensic Science Centre, St James on Thursday.

Atkins, who lived at Pelican Avenue, Lisas Gardens, Couva, was killed on Wednesday afternoon, shot to death, while riding a bicycle along Balizier Street, Couva. His body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre on Thursday for an autopsy to officially determine the cause of death.

Speaking to reporters, relatives said Atkins was “a good boy.”

“He was originally from Belmont, but his mother died and his father in jail so he was all alone and he end up going by a family in Couva where he was adopted. But to say that he deserved to die like this? Not at all. He was a good person, let the world know that. He had his flaws like everybody else, but he was a good person, and they had no right to kill that boy. He was a boy, a child. These men killed a child, and that is unforgivable. But we will leave it all in God’s hands right now, and we hope the police get those responsible,” said a relative.

Police reported that at about 2.50 pm on Wednesday, Atkins, who was employed at B’s Car Care and Janitorial Services, was riding his bicycle south along Church Street, Couva, when he was confronted by three men on bicycles.

The young man attempted to flee and turned his bicycle around and rode north. However, he was pursued by his assailants. Three loud explosions were heard and on reaching Balizier Street, Atkins turned into the street, before falling on the southern side of the roadway.

He was bleeding heavily from a wound to the lower left side of his back.

Atkins was assisted by a passerby and a relative who took him to the Couva District Health Facility. However, he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at 3.15 pm.

Police sources yesterday said the suspect in Atkins’ murder has gone into hiding. On Thursday night a party of police officers, went to a house in Couva in search of the suspect but he was not there. The suspect’s relatives told police he has not been seen or heard from since the fatal shooting.

The suspect, reported to be in his early 20s, has gone into hiding in fear of his life, police said.

“He is not only running from police, he is running from the gangs in the area as there is fear that there can be more killings,” a senior police officer said.

A few hours before the murder, several youths were shot at in the area.

“Those guys didn’t report it as they felt they could arm themselves and handle it on their own,” said the senior officer, who expressed concerns over increasing gang activity in Couva Housing Estate, Point Lisas and environs.

“There is gang activity in the housing scheme,” the officer stated, “and it is has been going on for quite sometime now but no official reports were made. Persons from the scheme can’t go to Railway Road, can’t go to Perseverance Village and vice versa.”

Newsday was informed that although Couva police responded to calls about loud gunshots in the area, on arrival they received no cooperation as residents were not willing, out of fear, to provide information.

PC Phillip of the Couva CID is investigating.