Welder shot dead after fight in Belmont

A 21-year-old man has been killed under strange circumstances. Sherwin Alfred Me-dina, who worked as a welder for a Peake’s contractor, was armed with a gun when he went with two other people to a house in Belmont early yesterday morning and assaulted a resident for reasons unkown to the police.

The resident had to be treated at hospital for suspected gunshot and stab wounds to the back of his shoulder. He was discharged and is now assisting the Belmont Criminal Investigations Department (CID) with their inquiries. Reports state that when Medina and the two others went to the area, a melee ensued and Medina, of School Street, Debe Long Circular, St James, was found dead.

The gun Medina came with was nowhere to be found and police said they are in search of a man and a woman, said to be the two people who accompanied Medina. It is unknown if any other firearm was used. Reports on the shooting are that around 12.15am yesterday, Ron-nie Lopez, of Norfolk Street, Belmont, and Richard Ramlogan of Palmiste Street, also in Belmont, were liming in Lopez’ yard, when three people, including the deceased and a woman, approached them. Police said Medina, who was armed and the other man walked up to Lopez. 

Medina is said to have pointed a gun at Lopez, who was beaten by the other man, while the woman looked on. A struggle ensued between Lopez and Medina. Shots rang out and police said Lopez ran off. Sometime later, Medina was discovered dead, lying on his back, blood flowing from his left temple.  A report was made and a party of officers from the Belmont Criminal Investigations, under Sgts Edgar Pope and Patterson visited the scene and conducted investigations. District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Pounder viewed the body and pronounced Medina dead. He ordered the body removed to the Port-of-Spain mortuary to be sent to the Forensic Science Centre. An autopsy revealed Medina died as a result of shock and haemorrhage consistent with a gunshot wound to the temple.

At the Forensic Science Centre yesterday, Medina’s 20-year-old brother, Andre Bailey said he last saw his brother Saturday night around 9. He refused to say why anyone would want to kill his brother. He, however, said his brother liked to dress up and wear lots of gold. Bailey also said he learned that his brother was liming in town Wednesday night.  He said he could not say what Medina was doing in Belmont, but that around 5am yesterday a relative informed him of his brother’s death. Medina’s father, Albert Bailey, of Diego Martin, said he could not comment because he knew nothing. Sgt Pope of the Belmont CID is continuing investigations.