Relatives of murdered father and son Marlon and Malik Lee yesterday chastised social media practitioners for irresponsible reporting on the Petit Valley triple murders, after the identity of the surviving son was widely broadcast on some sites following the killings on Monday night.
Marlon, 41; Malik, 17; and Marlon’s common-law wife Salina Rodriguez, 34; were gunned down at their home at Sita Trace, Upper Pioneer Drive, Petit Valley, at 9.36 pm.
It was initially alleged that Marlon’s 16-year-old son was the intended target, but was not at home because he had an extra-curricular activity after school and did not return home that night.
Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday as they sought to clarify the misinformation circulating, Lee’s relatives denied the frightened teenager had gone into hiding, noting it was Malik the gunmen were targeting.
A female relative, who did not want to be named, said, “He doesn’t reside at that place any more because he does extra-curricular activities and the person that keeps him does take him to and from. He was never ever in hiding.”
She added, “The cousin that passed away is the one that had the affiliation, I don’t know to what extent but he had the affiliation with the boy that was beaten on social media and stripped naked.”
Keeping a watchful eye out as vehicles slowed in front their house as she was being interviewed, the grieving woman said they had warned Malik of his association with the boy in question.
“We used to tell him to stay away from this boy because we heard that he was trouble. He didn’t listen to us on numerous occasions,” she said.
Referring to an alleged online video, in which Malik and his friend reportedly threatened a gang leader from the area and disclosed who had illegal guns, the relative asked, “What video?”
She said the family were yet to be shown the alleged video which is believed to have led to the mass shooting.
“We ain’t see no video. The day that the boy got beaten was the day that both of them were supposed to get beaten up but Malik wasn’t there so only the lil boy got beaten, so whatever he told whoever beat him up, I don’t know... whatever he told them is what they run with.”
In providing a chronology of how the events unfolded two days before the killings, the woman said, “From my understanding, they approached my uncle saying ‘Aye, we didn’t get your son ... we have to get him.’”
She speculated, “I don’t know if because of that and like probably because my uncle didn’t bring him to them, they say we coming for yuh.”
She said they were also told Monday’s killings were an interrogation gone wrong. She said Malik’s friend was beaten on Saturday, following which the suspects went to Marlon’s house searching for Malik who had not been home at the time. It was claimed that following this visit, Marlon decided to send Malik away from home during the day but relatives could not corroborate this.
Criticising law enforcement for the uncaring attitude that was meted out to the family in the hours after the killings, she said Marlon’s son was now, “fearful for his life.”
She said the family had lost other relatives before to gun violence and this latest incident had left the survivor scared of returning to school and the community, as his face and identity were now known.
She said it was sad, depressing and disheartening to read the remarks posted by the public, who were unkind and unfeeling over the emotional pain the family was suffering.
She challenged the naysayers to switch roles.
“If you were in the same position, you would never want something like that said to you or your family members.”
She added, “It is about common courtesy, that is what life is about. It is a gift not to be thrown away just so.”
Confirming the extended family was also fearful now as they were uncertain if the killers would return, she said, “Yes, because next thing one of them think he here and come to make a tack back as the people and them saying in the comments.”
Asked if Malik had been associated with or affiliated with any criminal gangs, she said, “No. no. The only person was the boy who got beat up. If you go to anybody, they will tell you he was a very helpful person. He always wanted to stand up for the right thing and sometimes we used to tell him, Malik, pick your battles cause you know how people is.”
On the verge of crying, she concluded, “The family will now have to live always looking over their shoulder.”
An elderly woman in the community told Guardian Media they were plunged into mourning, as she described the victims as “good people.”
Asked if they were fearful the killings could lead to an escalation of further gun violence in the quiet area, she said, “No. This is an isolated incident.”
But, she added, “While we are concerned, we not fearful they coming for others up here.”
