When Point Fortin mother Elizabeth Sinette had a premonition that something bad was going to happen, never did she imagine that her 39-year-old husband would be murdered outside the family's business.Residents ran for cover as father of four, Dane Joseph, was gunned down less than 50 metres away from the Cap-de-Ville Police Post on Easter Monday.His murder came just five days after his friend and neighbour Sherwin "Scrappy" Thomas was shot in the neck outside his home.
Residents said Joseph, an employee of Trinidad Offshore Fabricators Unlimited, bled along the Cap-de-Ville Main Road until a motorist stopped to help.According to Joseph's sister, Nikesha Joseph, the motorist went to the police post to inform officers that a man had been shot and was lying on the roadside. It was then Joseph was taken to the Point Fortin Area Hospital where he died shortly after.
Reports said Joseph was closing his parlour located at Cap-de-Ville junction around 7 pm when a man stood from across the road and fired four shots at him. After running a short distance away, he collapsed in front of a neighbour house.According to Joseph's 15-year-old son Keylon, when he heard the gunshots, he never imagined it was his father being killed.
Recalling his family's ordeal yesterday, he said, "She (Sinette) was in the shop with my father and she said she was getting a bad vibe and that she was going home. He dropped her home and he went back to the shop. I was lying on my bed, cooling off to go and bathe when I heard three shots. My mom was calling him to tell him that she was getting bad vibes, but he was not answering his phone."
Keylon said within a minute, a neighbour called with the news that his father was shot and after 30 minutes, police came to their home and informed them that he had died.Nikesha said Joseph and Thompson were best of friends and believes someone had targeted the two men. Last Wednesday, 32-year-old Thompson was repairing a vehicle in his yard when a man wearing his wig placed a gun to his neck and shot him. He underwent surgery at the San Fernando General Hospital and was released.
Residents said Thompson has not been seen much since he was released from hospital and they believe he fears for his life. Although the incident happened close to the police station, no suspect has been held up to yesterday evening. Residents said sometimes the police post doors are locked at 7 pm. They believe officers did not hear when the gun shots rang off.