Sascha Wilson
A relative of a 31-year-old fabricator who was shot dead when he went to collect money owed to him, has advised young people to stay away from guns and violence.
Marlon Modeste of Tableland and Princes Town was murdered on Saturday night in Rio Claro.
Police reports stated that around 10:30 pm Modeste went to an isolated area at Pinder Trace, Dades Road with a woman to collect money from a man who was hunting in the area. He came out of his car and met with the man who emerged from the bushes with a shotgun. But while walking back to his car some 15 minutes later, he was shot in the head.
The woman hid in the bushes until she heard a vehicle drive off. She then checked on Modeste who was unresponsive and sought help from someone nearby.
Yesterday, one of Modeste’s relatives, who did not want to be named, admitted that he was a “rude boy” and last year spent nine months in jail on a robbery charge. However, he said Modeste had turned a new page in his life.
He said since Modeste could not get a certificate of character, finding a permanent job was difficult, but he kept looking. The relative said Modeste recently landed a job and planned to start a food business.
The relative said he spoke to Modeste about his lifestyle, but “youths today feel they always know, you always trying to control their life.”
He advised them to take advice from elders.
“Youths do the right thing, forget the life of crime. The government giving plenty of courses.”
Meanwhile, Eastern Division Snr Supt Claire Guy-Alleyne urged citizens to exercise extreme caution when conducting financial transactions.
Extending condolences to the bereaved family, she said, “I again take this opportunity to remind citizens when conducting transactions of the nature, it is alleged that the deceased was conducting, to do so with extreme caution. Choose public places that are safe and where you are not at risk of harm,” the senior officer said.
Officers of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region 2 are investigating.
