Senior lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of the West Indies, Dr Wendell C Wallace says preliminary data shows there has been an increase in mass shootings in the last three to five years.
Speaking with Guardian Media on Tuesday, Wallace said last Saturday’s quadruple killing in Cocorite, which also saw eight other people being injured, is a perfect example of callous shooters hoping to prove a point.
Wallace said mass shooters, fuelled by criminality, are becoming more callous and when they are unable to get to their targets, resort to shooting at anyone in the community.
“It’s a two-way sort of situation that if we cannot get the intended target, then we’re going to strike at the core of your existence, which happens to be the community or the people around you, and they are sending that message. And you know that message is becoming increasingly heinous. So that’s what I have been seeing, that increasing trend, over the past three to five years.”
Last Saturday Shaquille Ottley, 22, Antonio Jack 57, Sadiki Ottley, 31 and Jonathan Osmond, 36, all of Phase One, Powder Magazine were killed when three gunmen opened fire on a group. Eight other people were shot in the attack.
A day later, a person of interest in the quadruple murder was held attempting to flee the country. Another man was also detained.
Wallace said he was currently conducting research on mass shootings in the country with the title of the study named—Criminally Motivated Mass Shootings.
Unlike North America, Europe and other areas, mass shootings in T&T he said, were strictly based on criminal activities whereas in other jurisdictions the motivation tended to be a misunderstood person, the mentally ill, a bullied student or someone with a political/religious objective.
Wallace said the apathy of shooters, coupled with their use of high-powered weapons while not being properly trained to use them, increased the probability of mass shootings. He noted that while he had yet to be furnished with the data from the police, his records showed mass shootings annually ranged from five to ten in this country.
Asked what could be done to address the mass shootings, Wallace said everyone should be mindful of where they are, be vigilant and disassociate themselves from those involved in criminal activities.
He said he was not against people liming, even in their own communities, but stressed that caution must be exercised.
While he said he could not ‘predict crime”, he said he did not think mass shootings in this country were coming to an end anytime soon.
“Based on the data, because that’s what we criminologists operate by, based on the data and trends that’s existing at this point in time, I think that we are not at the end of the mass shootings. Indeed, when you look at the fact that we have more high-powered rifles in the hands of criminals who are not trained to use them, I can guarantee you or guarantee maybe a strong word, but I’m of the belief and of the firm conviction that mass shootings, they are here to stay.”
