One dead as gunman sprays limers in Marabella

Residents had to scamper for safety when a lone gunman went on a rampage in Marabella, killing one man and seriously injuring another on Wednesday night. Marcus Williams, 28, of Bayshore Road, Marabella became murder victim No 199 this year and his neighbour, 33-year-old Panga McBurnie, was up to yesterday warded in a stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital. Investigators suspect that the shooting was gang-related and they believe that Williams and McBurnie were shot because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Police reportedly recovered approximately 15 spent shells at the crime scene and bullets were also sprayed on the walls of several nearby houses.

According to police, around 10 pm, Williams, McBurnie and an unidentified man, were liming on Bayshore Road, when a gunman emerged from a track and opened fire on them. Williams was shot twice in the head and collapsed a few feet away in front of the home of his aunt, Ann Williams. McBurnie, a father of four, was struck on his shoulder and legs and ran some distance away onto the Marabella train line. He was later found by relatives and taken to hospital. A third man who fled the scene of the shooting, escaped injury as he was shielded by McBurnie and Williams. Witnesses said when the gunman exhausted his ammunition in the shooting spree, he was chased by a group of angry neighbours along Bayshore Road, before escaping into some bushes.

They said before the shooting took place, the suspect had inquired about the identity of a man. However, they claimed that the killer was unknown to his eventual victims. A party of officers led by Inspectors Charles, Williams and Ramdath visited the scene and found numerous 9mm shells, including one lodged in the bedroom wall of Ann Williams. Williams said she was jolted from sleep by loud explosions and immediately hid under her bed. She said after the commotion had ended, she went to the front of her house and found her nephew’s blood-soaked body on the road, with bleeding from his mouth and ears. She said her nephew was a casual employee at Arcelor Mittal at Point Lisas, California and was expected to restart work on Monday. Neighbours and relatives described him as a loving and respectful person, who never got involved in illegal activities or quarrels with anyone.