Aleah Cain, a mere 15 years old, told her mother on Monday she was afraid to die.One day later, a gunman made her fear become a reality when he opened fire on both Cain and her boyfriend, 20-year-old Odell Charles, in the heart of Belmont.According to police, Cain and Charles were walking along Belmont Circular Road around 10 pm when a gunman opened fire on the couple from inside a silver Nissan Primera, hitting Cain.
Cain, who has a six-week-old daughter, Sophie, was shot once in the chest. The bullet pierced her lungs and heart before exiting through her back. She died shortly after arriving at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Charles escaped unhurt.Speaking with members of the media outside the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, Cain's mother, Lauren, promised to take care of her granddaughter.
"That is my child. She was loved by me. I know people would have things to say but I don't care. She was my daughter. I have my pain to go through but God is the boss," the elder Cain said, pointing out that she only became aware of her daughter's pregnancy when she was five months pregnant. The grieving mother said her daughter, an aspiring interior designer, was loved by all.
Cain said her daughter was not the type to be outside much. She said she had gone to a nearby parlour to buy snacks and was on her way back to her Farrell Street home when she was shot.The former St Martin's pupil had been taking evening classes since last year, her mother said. She joked that the classes turned out to be Sophie whose birth has not yet been registered, a male relative added.
Cain said throughout her daughter's pregnancy she was there for her and was present at the delivery. She told reporters it did not make any sense putting her child out of her house.She added: "I loved my daughter and I stood with her through everything. If I had to do it again I would. That is my child."Sophie is my daughter. She (Cain) made that child for me. I love her. Just as how I would treat my other children I would treat her (Sophie)."
She added that police were once interested in pursuing a case of sex with a minor against the child's father but he was not around to be interviewed.Asked about her thoughts on her daughter's killing Cain said: "I angry, I angry, I angry! Is too much innocent people losing their lives for nothing. "Cain's killing was the country's 39th for the year. There was 29 murders during the corresponding period last year.