2 teens gunned down

Washington’s mother said she was expecting something like this to happen to him because the company he kept. She appealed to children in the community not to follow in her son’s footsteps and listen to their parents.

“The most I could say to the youths in the area is listen to your parents,” said Kathleen Washington.

“Because when they are talking to you it is because they want you to have a better life than we as parents had when we were growing up. My son was hardened and if he only listened, he may have been alive with me today.” It was reported that at about 5.30 am on Wednesday, gunshots rang out at a farm off Dump Road in the Heights of Guanapo. Police were called in and found Washington dead near his mattress and Charles bleeding profusely nearby.

The walls of the sleeping quarters were marked by bullets. Washington said her son began straying just after he was enrolled in secondary school. She said that he began looking for work as a garbage collector and became influenced by persons in the community.

“He didn’t want to go to school.

Then he stopped listening to me.

Next he did not want to go to church because he was leaving early to catch the trucks. I was expecting this. I know I am supposed to be upset, but working up myself would not change what happened, so I am trying to remain calm. The most I could do is give my son a decent burial and pray that when the younger kids grow up, things would change.” The owner of the farm, who asked not to be named, said he had just awakened when the shooting started. He was about to go and say his prayers as he is a devout Muslim, when he heard rapid gunfire.

“I thought they had gotten in the house,” said the farmer.

“They pelt shots behind me as well.” The farm owner told Newsday that a black Nissan Tiida car was seen in the area before the shooting started.

It is alleged that two gunmen emerged from the car, snuck into the farm and opened fire on the sleeping teens. The farm owner described the two boys as hard-working youngsters. Newsday understands the two teens were questioned in connection with a body which was found burnt beyond recognition in the same area and up to last Friday, were being questioned in connection with robberies in the area.

Autopsies are expected to be done today on the bodies. While police were investigating the double murder, heads of Northern Division as well as Eastern and Western Divisions were in a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on how to tackle crime.