Family struggles with Jamaican’s murder in T&T
THE FAMILY of a 28-year-old Jamaican who was killed in Trinidad and Tobago over a week ago is not ruling out the possibility that his death could have been related to a deadly gang war in his Bentley Lane, Kingston, community, although they have not been getting much information on his killing.
Akeem Thompson was shot dead last week Thursday night in Diego Martin in the twin-island republic.
He had reportedly gone to visit a friend in the Four Roads area when on leaving the house, he was shot several times.
A medical officer declared him dead at the scene.
His mother, Andrea Nation, told The Gleaner that she is struggling to get any information on the murder that may lead to closure, having lost another son nine years ago in Jamaica.
Yesterday, she was not ruling out the possibility that the deadly gang war in Bentley Lane, which has claimed many lives, could be at play offshore.
“Not ruling out anything. Not saying is it and not saying is not it. That why I want to know,” Nation told The Gleaner.
“Dem (warring factions) have link over there (T&T), but we don’t know,” another relative said.
Akeem’s brother, Nigel Thompson, of a Bentley Lane address, was shot dead by police along with Carl Nation, a relative, on neighbouring Moore Street on August 25, 2012, as they were reportedly heading home from a party. Both were 18 years old.
Details of that shooting were not released; however, the police say a Taurus 9mm with the serial number erased and three 9 mm rounds were seized during that incident.
Andrea said that she wanted a different life for Akeem and encouraged him to migrate to Trinidad and Tobago.
“[The plan] was to move him away from the violence. He was working at a supermarket over there,” she said in a soft tone, with tears streaming down.
WANTED TO GET MARRIED
A cousin told The Gleaner that Akeem was all about his two-yearold son and his job, which he has maintained since leaving Jamaica.
“He has a baby there. He wanted to get married and come to Jamaica come look for us and go back,” she said.
Akeem’s older sister said that the family was not taking his death easy.
“We taking it hard, we trying to hold up,” she said as a weeping Andrea was being consoled by family and friends.
“Akeem a everything good. Him nuh keep friends. Him nuh party, just from work to home. He is always smiling,” another relative said.
According to the family, Akeem did not mention any disputes he was having with anyone in Trinidad and Tobago, although since his death, they have been hearing reports of possible tension with some in-laws.
The family is frustrated that credible or official information is not forthcoming as they are finding it hard to dialogue with investigators in another country.
They are making plans to fly his body to Jamaica for burial.