Senior Reporter
anna-lisa.paul@guardian.co.tt
Pupils of the Gloster Lodge Moravian Primary School in Port-of-Spain scampered for safety under their desks yesterday, as gunfire erupted outside the school when a man was killed.
The family of the murdered man also sought cover, unaware he had been gunned down outside their gate, close to the school.
Amoa Howe, 50, was shot multiple times at 9.10 am and died on the road in front of his parents’ house.
At least 25 spent shell casings were collected at the scene, while a single casing was found in the school’s front yard.
Classes at the school were dismissed just before midday.
Hours after the shooting, which left pupils and teachers traumatised, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly confirmed the school will remain closed today.
Officials from the Student Support Services Division are also expected to provide counselling tomorrow.
Howe, a father of five, came face-to-face with two gunmen as he walked to his house after reportedly dropping off two of his children at a school outside Belmont.
It is reported the gunmen were in a silver car which came from “over the hill” and stopped in front of Howe, as he moved to the side to allow them to pass.
Two gunmen allegedly emerged from the car and opened fire on Howe, who collapsed on the road.
The gunmen’s car was found abandoned nearby almost an hour later.
As news of the killing spread, residents rushed to the scene, hoping to catch a glimpse of the body, which remained uncovered for almost two hours.
Some people begged the officers present to cover the bloody corpse, as it was visible to the pupils and staff at the school.
School officials said as soon as the shooting began, the principal convened an assembly on the second floor, but some pupils were still able to see Howe’s bleeding body on the road, which caused screaming and crying from some pupils and staff members.
One teacher said, “It was horrible. We were all on the floor and we had to calm the students even though we were scared too.”
A senior teacher, who is also a pastor, used the school’s public address system to pray with the staff and pupils.
The deceased man’s uncle, Ray Howe, told Guardian Media, “He maybe had his different ways of doing things, you know, but otherwise he was real cool and humble.”
Describing the crime situation as terrible, 78-year-old Ray agreed the killing would bring repercussions for the community.
Belmont community plunged into grief
Although lawmen labelled the killing as gang-related, residents, along with friends and family, refused to accept this, as they claimed Howe had one of the biggest hearts around and took extra care to provide for the less fortunate in the community.
One woman who declined to give her name, cried openly, saying, “He would always make sure we had something to eat. Even when I couldn’t send my children to school, he would handle me. I don’t care what people say about him, he was good to so many people up here and we will suffer now.”
Another nodded her head in agreement, “He was a nice fella and he was always there for us.”
An elderly male resident from Darceuil Lane, who claimed to have known Howe since birth, said, “He might have had his ways, but he was a man who did a lot of good for the people around here.”
A close friend of Howe’s told Guardian Media, “He is not an arrogant person who could be found liming on the block, smoking weed or cursing.”
He claimed Howe was a businessman who enjoyed exclusive parties and helped the less fortunate.
Angry over the killing and subsequent lack of action by attending officers, Jason De Silva questioned why it took so long to cover Howe’s body, which was in full view of the staff and pupils at the school.
Pointing to the numerous marked and unmarked police vehicles at the scene, he called on Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher to answer pertinent questions.
“How long again will the Commissioner of Police be allowed to work a ghost gang on taxpayers’ money because of friends in high places?” he asked.
De Silva said the public needs to wake up and realise what is happening, as he said corrupt officers continued to flood the service.
“You cannot clean white tiles with a dirty mop,” he added.
Anxious parents rush to collect children
Anxious as he waited to collect his two grandchildren, aged nine and seven, from school around 9.27 am following the shooting, Junior Thomas said the gun violence had brought back memories of the loss he suffered six years ago when his son was killed in similar circumstances.
He told Guardian Media, “It’s not nice. What hurting me is that it was by the school. What would have happened if it had children in the schoolyard?”
Watching the clock, as he was due to report to work at noon, Thomas said, “All I want to do is collect my grandchildren and make sure and put them somewhere safe that they’re okay while I am at work.”
Originally from Tobago and now living in Gonzales, he described the crime situation as “scary” and “funny”.
He admitted having to watch his back now as he lived in a warring area, but remained committed to helping his daughter with her children.
He predicted, “This ain’t done, it will have more to come.”
The mother of a seven-year-old boy who is in Second Year, said her heart dropped after receiving a call about the shooting.
Revealing she had been acting on auto-pilot as she gathered her things and informed her supervisor that she had to leave immediately, the anxious woman said she was worried as two other young relatives also attended the school.
She said her son, who she dropped off at the school around 7.30 am, was epileptic and suffers seizures, especially during sleep.
As a result of the trauma, she said, “I will have to monitor him as the shock could bring on an episode, you never know what could happen. He could wake up in the hospital tomorrow (today).”
Ready to transfer her son from the school, the distraught woman said she would be speaking with relatives in an attempt to convince them that a move out of the area would be in everyone’s best interest.
