Relatives of Trevon April who was shot and killed in a Route 32 minibus on the Demerara Harbour Bridge on Monday said they confirmed his death after reading an article published in yesterday’s edition of the Stabroek News.
April, 32, called ‘Trevy’ of Patrick’s Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice was identified by his fingerprints. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said the identity fingerprint test was conducted on Tuesday.
At her home yesterday, April’s aunt Pammy King said the family was in disbelief after confirming the death. King stated that before Stabroek News approached her, a friend had called her and related that she saw an article in this newspaper which reported his death. She also stated that earlier in the day April’s eldest brother Gordon had telephoned her to enquire if it was true that he had been shot and killed.
King explained that it had been months since any family member had heard from April. She said that sometime around February they had received news that he had died. However, when they ventured into city to identify the body, it was another individual.
April used to reside in Antigua but was deported to Guyana several years ago. Upon his return, his aunt said, he worked in the interior until his rumoured death in February. According to King, the last time she heard of him he was working as a city garbage collector.
“When he was working in the bush he would come out every couple of months but then he stop going in the bush and the last thing I hear is that he living in Georgetown and working on a garbage truck. He really don’t tell nobody what he doing,” his aunt said.
Meanwhile, Stabroek News gathered from King that April’s father Frankie April had identified him but was to return to with a form of identification to formally do so.
The mother of April’s children, Stacy Johnson, was also unaware of his death. It was only when the media approached her for a photograph of April that she became aware of his demise.
Describing April’s personality, she said, “He wasn’t no quiet person, he name always calling… He did thief he cousin clothes dem. He din had no nice reputation. He and a boy had a problem and he beat up the boy and the boy come back an juk out he one eye; so is only one he had… And because of them things I leave him. We never use to communicate.”
Reports revealed that the bus, which was destined for Georgetown, picked up the suspect at Farm, East Bank Essequibo. Rudolph Williams, 28, of Lot 3 ‘B’ Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara, who was injured in the incident, and April, got on the bus at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
As they were proceeding east along the Demerara Harbour Bridge, an argument began over the bus’s open window as it was raining.
From indications, one of the men wanted the window closed as he was getting wet and another wanted it to remain open. A scuffle then ensued.
As a result, the driver, stopped the bus on the middle of the bridge to put the combatants off. The suspect then drew out a firearm and fired several shots before fleeing. April and Williams were both rushed to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital at Diamond, where April succumbed. Williams, who was shot once to his left foot, was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was treated and later sent away.
April leaves to mourn his three children, father, siblings and many other relatives and friends. Police investigations are continuing.
