(Trinidad Guardian) The fatal shooting of Steffen Belgrave and Darnell Pierre on Wednesday night at Jeffers Lane, St James, has raised concerns among members of that community.
The only evidence of the murders were the bullet holes in walls and the blood-stained puddles where the men and two others were shot by gunmen during what police said was a drive-by shooting.
While some residents remained locked in their homes yesterday, relatives of Belgrave and Pierre cried as they awaited the autopsies at the Forensic Science Centre, St James.
A relative said the two men were like brothers, although they were not biologically related.
A female relative said Belgrave was like glue as he was the one who brought everyone and everything together.
“Always the life of the party. No matter what, he was always the one to pull everyone together.”
Another chimed in, “He was always willing to help somebody.”
One of Belgrave’s male relatives added, “He lived a normal life…friendly with everybody. He would give his last if he had to.”
Belgrave, 25, was the father of two children born months apart. He lived at Sage Street, Cocorite.
Lamenting that the babies would be growing up without a father a woman said, “Babies growing up without a father. A mother lost one of her children. Siblings have to deal with losing a loved one. Friends have to deal with losing the glue that held it all together … it is just horrible.”
Relatives of the two men said young and old members of the community were accustomed to sitting on the roadside on evenings playing football and cricket and exchanging stories.
“It is sad to see the country reach this stage,” one woman said, adding, “Innocent lives are being lost and families are being cheated.”
Embracing grieving relatives of Darnell Pierre as they waited to identify his body, one of Belgrave’s relatives declared, “They definitely did not deserve this.”
Belgrave, Pierre and two other men, were shot by gunmen around 11 pm.
They had been sitting at the side of the road when a white Nissan AD wagon pulled up. Several gunmen alighted and opened fire at them.
As the men collapsed on the road, the car sped off.
Belgrave died at the scene while residents went to the assistance of the other three who were taken to the nearby St James Medical Complex. Pierre, 28, of Jeffers Lane, St James, died in hospital.
