Man shot while shielding wife, child

KELLMIS McCarthy, 41, was walking at the side of the Diego Martin Main Road on Tuesday night with his common-law wife Esther Frederick and their baby son, Zion. Two men dressed in black ran towards the family and fired two shots which struck McCarthy in the chest, causing him to slump to the ground. They then turned their guns on Esther and baby Zion and opened fire. But miraculously, the gun failed to go off. As the gunmen continued pulling their triggers, McCarthy who was already severely wounded by two bullets, was able to shield his family from the gunmen. In the process he received two more bullets which were intended for baby Zion.

McCarthy subsequently died while undergoing surgery at Port-of-Spain General Hospital.  A former URP labourer, McCarthy was said to be involved in gang-related activities in the Diego Martin area. On December 12 2004, police told Newsday that McCarthy was shot in the leg and the following day a man by the name of David “Tolo” John was murdered. Reports stated that on Tuesday evening, McCarthy and his family were returning from a meeting at the Diego Martin mosque where an Imam was said to have been trying to broker a truce between Diego Martin criminals, after McCarthy had received a death threat.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday, some of McCarthy’s relatives said they believed it was a well-planned execution. They also praised his courage which saved the life of his son and common-law wife from the gunmen’s bullets. Eight spent shells were recovered at the scene of the shooting. A grieving Claire McCarthy, mother of the dead man, called for justice saying, “I want my son’s killers found and hanged because they killed him for nothing, only old talk, hearsay and rumours.” Visiting the scene on Tuesday night were ASP Narcis Cadette, Insp Lezama, chief investigator Cpl Marcelle and others. Up to yesterday no arrests had been made and investigations were continuing.