Senior Reporter
anna-lisa.paul@guardian.co.tt
Relatives of Kynplyn Sandy yesterday remained shocked and baffled about who would want him dead.
After identifying his body at the Forensic Science Centre in St James, they begged for answers and struggled to come to terms with Sandy’s killing.
Described by relatives as “ever-smiling”, the 34-year-old autistic man, of Bamboo Trace, Upper Fairley Street, Tunapuna, was shot dead by a gunman as he sat outside his house around 5 pm on Monday.
Police and relatives confirmed Sandy was accustomed to sitting downstairs daily—waving, smiling and talking to residents and passersby as they went along their way.
Police said Sandy was shot at point-blank range.
Grieving relatives denied social media claims that Sandy was killed because of a gang affiliation.
This was also dismissed by police, who said Sandy was not known to them, nor did he have a criminal past or an infraction recorded against him.
Smiling as she recalled just how intuitive Sandy had always been despite his disability, a female relative, who declined to provide her name, described him as a, “very sweet, compassionate, kind, helpful and full of life person”.
She added, “He never let his disability keep him down. If you knew him as a person, you would know he was just pure joy. His energy was contagious.”
Nodding in agreement were two other female relatives, who said Sandy was always “sharply dressed”.
Revealing his love for dancing, the three women said he would be on his feet from the time he got to a party or event until it ended.
In fact, one laughed as she recalled, “He was the life of the party. Anywhere the music is ... that’s where he (was) following.
“If the party start eight o’clock and finish 12 o’clock, he vex when he hear is time to go because he dancing from the time it start to the time it finish.”
She continued, “He loved to eat, loved to dance, loved to clean house.”
Another said her last interaction with Sandy was him telling her he loved her as she got ready to go out.
Sandy celebrated his birthday on February 14 and had always been one of his sister’s valentines.
“The worst thing is to tell him he going out the day before ... he was like a little child, he wouldn’t sleep at all, he would just be excited,” the relative said.
The family said Sandy was unmarried and described him as completely innocent.
Relatives said they are now focused on ensuring Sandy got the farewell he deserves.