Twenty-seven-year-old security guard Stephen Andrew Gonzalves Jr had dreams of one day becoming this country’s Police Commissioner.
Gonzalves had applied to the T&T Police Service (TTPS) and recently began taking driving lessons in preparation for his dream career.
However, he and his driving instructor Naresh Harrilal were critically injured when they were struck by stray bullets from a gang-related shooting in Cocorite while they were driving along the Western Main Road yesterday morning.
In a brief interview outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital yesterday evening, Gonzalves’ father, Stephen Sr, admitted his son’s dream may never become a reality.
“He wanted to change this country. He said he wanted to be the next commissioner of T&T. He wanted to change this land,” Gonzalves’ father said.
The father said that while doctors were treating his son for most of yesterday, his condition did not improve.
“They (doctors) said that damage done is most likely irreparable. His whole head swollen, his skull is fractured and his eyes are black, but he is still breathing,” Gonzalves’ father said.
Stephen Sr also said his son was learning to drive as he lived with his grandmother in Alyce Glen, Petit Valley, while the rest of the family live in Santa Cruz.
“It’s years now he trying to learn to drive. The other reason why he was learning is that we living in Santa Cruz and he had to take taxis to see us every weekend,” he said.
Stephen Sr said he only heard the news of the incident around midday and initially thought his son was shot while working at Scotiabank’s St James branch.
According to reports, shortly before 9 am, Gonzalves and Harrilal, 50, of Cunupia, were in Harrilal’s Nissan Almera driving along the westbound lane of Western Main Road when they were shot near the Cocorite walkover.
The car veered left and crashed into the car park of a business place at the side of the road. Residents rushed to their assistance and contacted police.
Both men, who were shot in their heads, were taken to the St James Medical Complex and transferred to the PoSGH, where they remained warded in the ICU late yesterday.
Police believe the men were hit by stray bullets as there was a report of a shooting at Lady Hochoy Circular Road, near the entrance to the Community Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists, around the same time. No one was reportedly injured in that incident, as the intended target is believed to have escaped his attacker.
Police believe stray bullets from that shootout may have crossed the eastbound lane of the Western Main Road before striking Gonzalves, who was in the driver’s seat. They believe one of the bullets may have ricocheted off Gonzalves and struck Harrilal in the eye.
No arrests were made in relation to the shooting up to late yesterday.
In a brief interview outside Licensing Authority’s office in Port-of-Spain, Harrilal’s son Gajendra said he was able to speak to his father before he was transferred from the St James Medical Complex.
“His whole head was bandaged but I was able to speak to him,” Gajendra said.
While he described his father’s condition as serious, he said Gonzalves was worse as his father was hit in the eye while a bullet entered one side of Gonzalves’ head and exited through the other.
Investigations are continuing.