Senior Reporter
rhondor.dowlat@guardian.co.tt
A 15-year-old girl, who was allegedly shot by a village bully after an argument turned violent in Las Lomas No 1 on Sunday, died yesterday.
Police officers have since launched a manhunt for the suspect, who is a villager.
According to a police report, at about 6.45 pm on Sunday a 55-year-old man, of Kacy Avenue, Savary Road, Las Lomas No 1, who is employed at an old age home, was at a Sameer’s Mini Mart on Savary Road when the suspect, 45, who was driving a silver-coloured Nissan Cube saw him at the mini mart.
Police said the suspect stopped the vehicle, walked up to the victim and proceeded to cuff him about the body. The suspect then got into the vehicle and drove home.
The police report stated that whilst the suspect was at his home, an exchange of words allegedly took place between him and some of the villagers who were in the road. The suspect then allegedly came out with a shotgun and fired one shot in their direction, hitting Isabella Teelucksingh, 15, of Kacy Avenue, Savary Road, and her aunt, 20, of Kelly Village, Caroni.
Teelucksingh was shot in the head while her aunt was hit in the pelvic area. Even the family’s dog, Spotty, was shot.
Teelucksingh and the aunt were taken to the hospital where they were treated and warded. Teelucksingh, who was eventually placed on life support, succumbed to her injuries around midday yesterday. Her aunt underwent emergency surgery.
However, villagers yesterday challenged part of the police’s report on the incident.
They claimed that Teelucksingh and a group of children, the youngest being eight years, the family pet and Teelucksingh’s aunt were walking along Savary Road on their way to a relative’s home when the suspect allegedly shot them from a distance.
Guardian Media was told that the suspect lives about three houses away from Teelucksingh’s relative. Eyewitnesses claimed the incident stemmed from an argument over a football game.
During a visit to the area yesterday, neither of the suspect’s family members were at his home.
The owner of the shop where the initial fight took place did not want to be interviewed, but said she was inside her home when the fight allegedly took place.
“I really don’t know what happened because I was inside but I heard from people around what had happened.”
At the bereaved family’s residence, Teelucksingh’s relatives were too distraught to speak but other relatives spoke highly of Teelucksingh.
Teelucksingh, they said, was a student of the Carapichaima East Secondary School and had high goals set for her life. She had already earned certificates, was a qualified hairdresser and was currently pursuing nursing studies She was described as a “pretty, loving, kind, intelligent and ambitious” young girl.
Speaking with Guardian Media, villager Erickson Archer, 75, said he was in church on Sunday night when he heard of the incident.
“I was in church and the pastor made an announcement because the family attend the same church. Those people are very good people and I have never known them to be giving trouble or in any trouble in the area,” Archer said.
“I know the child and I am shocked over what happened although I don’t know the whole story and what caused this whole thing but it real real sad. I hope they get justice.”
Another resident, who wished not to be identified, described the suspect as a “village bully”.
“That man always bullying people in the village and like the people afraid of him. Look what happened now. An innocent girl was killed. Why a group of children would be a threat to a big man. I really hope the police looking for him and just not sitting in the station doing nothing.”
Also hoping for justice for the family was Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation chairman Ryan Rampersad, who said, “I know the family. The girl’s mother runs a senior home and they are an exemplary family. Very outstanding and a very caring family. I am very shocked but I hope whoever is responsible for this, that the police arrest them and the family gets justice.
“People should know how to temper their anger,” he added.
Up to press time last night the suspect remained at large.
Investigations are continuing.