‘Ten cents’ riddled in the face, chest

Fortune who lives in Laventille was shot along with two other people as he stopped at a bar in Barataria to purchase drinks. Police are working on a theory that his slaying was a reprisal. Police said that at 11.45 pm on Saturday, Fortune was in a white Nissan Almera car in the company of a male relative when they decided to stop at the bar for drinks.

Just as the driver got out of the car got, occupants in another car approached and using a high-powered weapon believed to the military- grade AR 15 Assault Rifle, let loose a volley of shots, hitting Fortune in the face and chest. Stray bullets struck Fortune’s relative and a patron at the bar/ Both were later treated at hospital.

One, a 55-year-old man was shot in the hip and the other was shot in his chest. Both were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope where the one shot in the chest, remains warded in stable condition.

Just over a month ago, Fortune was acquitted of the murder of Jayson ‘Irie’ Hoyte of Malabar.

Hoyte was killed on the night of January 6, 2008.

According to reports, Hoyte was at a christening when he was shot. He died later at Port of Spain General Hospital.

Fortune spent eight years in prison while his trial was being heard. An earlier report said that he was acquitted on the grounds that the case was fabricated against him. His defence attorney Mario Meritt argued that it was another man who had shot Hoyte dead.

Police sources described Fortune as a well-known criminal who had gang affiliations both in and out of prison. The murder toll stood at 215 up to press time yesterday.