A La Brea businessman whose company was targeted twice in the past two weeks by gunmen says he's finished with his business ventures in the area.
Gregory Williams, a contractor and owner of several boats and jet skis, told the T&T Guardian yesterday he would no longer pursue business interests on Queen Street, La Brea.
Williams owns a garage a stone's throw away from Queen Beach, where he repairs boats. He said the boats and jet skis were rented out to members of the public.
Williams' prized pleasure boat, two jet skis and two boat engines were torched some time early Friday. He estimates his losses at around $550,000.
He said he got a phone call around 2 am telling him his boat was on fire, and by the time he got there the boat was nothing but a charred husk.
Williams' dream to have the boat, which he said was fully outfitted with the latest marine equipment and technology, on the seas by this monthend have been dashed.
A contractor by trade, Williams says he makes his money outside La Brea, but has always tried to provide employment to those within the community.
This latest incident has left him disheartened, as he says those responsible are just youngsters fighting for control of the beachfront.
He said because he did not support their operations, they were trying to move him off the beach.
Just two weeks ago, Williams said, he almost lost his life when the same men began shooting at him and one of his employees in a daring daylight attack.
His employee was shot in the leg, but Williams was able to escape with only a few grazes to his body. The gunmen also shot at the vehicle they came in, causing it to catch afire.
A panel van and a car, parked close by beach-goers, also caught fire and burned.
The T&T Guardian understands the La Brea police removed the gunmen's car, but up to yesterday the burnt out shells of the two other vehicles were still on the beach.
As a father, Williams said, he hoped the youngsters responsible for these acts would stop and rethink their actions before they went too far down the road of crime.
The La Brea police are continuing investigations.