Twenty-seven-year-old Buchanan “Booky” Alibocas never had a chance. He was shot in the head while he was sleeping at home yesterday morning. However, relatives believe he was not the intended target. Alibocas and another man were asleep on a mattress on the floor at Alibocas’ home at Manahambre Road in Princes Town.
Shortly before 3.45 am, two suspects entered the house through an open door on the southern side of the building. They fired twice, shooting Alibocas in the head. They also pointed a gun at the other man, who was on the ground, but the gun did not fire. The suspects then left in a waiting car.
Relatives said yesterday that the other man began staying at the house where Alibocas lived with his family about six months ago. Relatives said Alibocas was not involved in any criminal activity. In an interview at their home, Alibocas’ uncle Andy said he was sleeping downstairs when he heard a gunshot.
He ran upstairs and saw his nephew dead on the bed. He said Alibocas was not the intended target.
“Two of them sleeping, one was a bandit and he was the innocent one,” the uncle said.
Andy said Alibocas was unemployed at the time. While he felt a greater effort should be made to curb gun violence in the country, the uncle said, “More could be done, but it’s up to the youths too. It’s time for them to behave themselves and look to Christ because he say he coming now.”
Officers of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region III are investigating.