Three months after burying her last child, who died of natural causes, a 75-year-old woman yesterday will now have to bury another child, this time due to the escalating gun violence.
Speaking inaudibly at times and repeating that she had been in and out of the hospital since her daughter died, Cynthia Noriega said gunmen murdered her son, Terrance Roberts, and stole all his belongings, including his identification cards on Tuesday night.
Noriega told reporters at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, her son was no criminal and did nothing to harm anyone. She said if anyone was in need he would have been the first to offer help.
According to police reports, the Innovative security officer was at his home at Eastern Main Road, Tacarigua, around 9.30 pm Tuesday when residents heard gunshots.
Police said they later found Roberts with gunshot wounds to the head, shoulder and left arm. His murder takes the toll to 102 for the year while for the same period last year there were 72 reported murders.
Also speaking with the media at the centre yesterday, Robert’s older sister, Cathy Roberts, described her brother as a sweetheart.
She said six years after the family left Pashley Street, Laventille, which she re-christened “Blood Street” because of the number of people killed there, she was saddened that her brother met his death in a relatively safe neighbourhood.
“He wouldn’t talk to you everyday or every week or every month but when he did talk to you it was important. Last time we spoke was Carnival I think. A long conversation we had.
“I don’t like how he dead. He died like if he was a gangster. Five bullets to his head. He was home, he was innocent, he doesn’t do anything,” Roberts added.