Children flee house where dad was murdered

Dead is Carlton James, 62 aka "Crazy Horse" a crane operator of Upper Woods Alley, Never Dirty, Morvant. He was suspected of being a police informer.

According to reports around 7.30 pm Sunday one of his children was in the bathroom when she heard two gunshots. The girl, together with another sister ran to the front door where they saw their father lying in a pool of blood on the newly-tiled gallery floor. Two masked men were standing nearby with guns in their hands waving at them and motioning them not to make a sound.

The girls ran back inside, slammed the door and began screaming which alerted other relatives nearby. One of the relatives rushed the father of 20 and grandfather of 17 to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, but succumbed to his injuries around 11 pm.

When Newsday visited the family home, all relatives refused to go on camera out of fear for their lives, but described James as a good, respectable man who was a godfather to the community. They described the killing as "a cold ghastly act" and called for justice.

"James helped anyone and everyone," they declared. "He was no informer. A relative of his who lived nearby had police and soldier friends who regularly visited and when they did they will call out and talk to James.

"That is all. He was a friend, with a big heart, he was no police informer. The killers killed the wrong man for the wrong reason and they must be made to feel the pains he felt."

Another relative said he left the killers in the hands of God.

James lived there with his two youngest daughters Nakiba, 9 and Onika 7. Both children said they cannot live in the house again.

When Newsday visited the home, movers were clearing out the furniture.

Autopsy results confirmed James was shot by a shotgun which left pellets in his left upper torso and his right forearm.

When contacted police who received the report around 10.05 pm said preliminary evidence pointed to the dead man as being a suspected informer. Police believe he was killed by gang members in the area.

Visiting the scene were Snr Supt Bishop, Insp Hilaire, Cpl McMillan and others. Cpl McMillan is continuing inquiries.