TEARS FLOW: Relatives of murder victim Keston Charles, inset, lament his shooting death which occurred near his home at Guarata Hill, Maracas Valley, yesterday.
As police continued investigations into Saturday’s murder of 38-year-old secondary school teacher Sherwin Wallace on Maracas Royal Road, two more men were shot and killed in Maracas Valley, St Joseph, yesterday afternoon, bringing the murder toll for the year to date to 108.
The two victims were identified as Keston Charles, 31, and Anton De Four, 30. But according to police investigators, the intended target was a man who was identified only by his alias, “Bobo”, who escaped without injury.
Both Charles and De Four lived at Guarata Hill, Maracas Valley.
Police said that around 4.45 p.m., two gunmen arrived in a white “PH” Nissan Tiida.
The men reportedly met the driver at Curepe Junction and hired him to take them to the area.
The two men arrived, saw their target, got out the car and opened fire on “Bobo”, who was having a conversation with Charles and De Four.
“Bobo” was able to escape being shot and went into hiding, but Charles and De Four were struck by bullets and one of the gunmen, who was described as tall and wearing a white shirt, walked over to the injured duo and fired more shots at them, killing them on the spot.
The men then escaped in the car.
The police intercepted the car and its driver around 5.30 p.m., but not the two gunmen.
At the murder scene, De Four’s mother, Antonia De Four, said the men took the life of her only child.
She said he lived in Kelly Village, Caroni, and two days ago he came to his mother’s home to spend some time with his relatives.
As she spoke, she cried out: “Oh Lord Jesus, I want justice.”
Another relative, who did not want to be named, said when Anton came by his family he told them he was living for his two children, both of whom are under the age of five.
Other residents in the area lamented the wave of violence currently plaguing the community as the double homicide comes on the heels of Saturday’s early morning murder.
Around 2.30 a.m., Wallace, 38, and Quincy Small were ambushed near Maracas Gardens, off Maracas Royal Road, while driving his Suzuki Grand Vitara.
Two men emerged from a car that blocked Wallace’s SUV and opened fire, killing Wallace on the spot.
Small was injured and managed to escape.
Police said as a result of the violence, patrols in the normally quiet community have been increased following a high-level meeting at St Joseph Police Station yesterday morning.
They also said Wallace was targeted because of his involvement with a drug dealer who is currently incarcerated.
The murder toll at the same time last year was 75.