Relative of Grande double murder victim: ‘Parents, keep children under your wings’

A close female relative of Kevon Lucas says broken homes possibly have a part to play in the crime situation and parents should keep their children “under their wings” and get them help if necessary.

Lucas, 35, and Sherayne Salandy, 37, were shot dead at Boodoo Highway, Sangre Grande, early on Sunday morning.

Police said around 3.30 am on August 18, the two were sitting in a grey Hyundai Elantra, when several gunshots were heard. Eyewitnesses told police a silver vehicle then drove off.

Police said they were informed of the incident around 4.40 am and arrived 25 minutes later.

They saw the grey Hyundai Elantra idling on the road with Lucas in the front passenger seat with gunshot wounds. They said Salandy was already dead.

Crime scene investigators found ten 9 mm spent shell casings, one live 9 mm shell, three projectiles, one deformed projectile, one metal jacket, and 18 5.56 spent shell casings.

Relatives of Salandy shied away from commenting when Newsday reporters visited her home in La Horquetta on August 18. However, they confirmed she was a nurse at St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital.

One relative said, “She was full of life.”

On Monday, her relatives politely declined to speak with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James.

One close female relative of Lucas spoke to the media.

She said while people have different behaviours around different individuals, he was always nice to his family at home.

“He was good to the children, all his nephews and nieces. They don’t understand the magnitude of what happened, but they will miss him and we will all miss him.”

She wanted to clear up a comment Lucas’ mother made which had met with backlash on social media.

“His mother said, ‘He’s a good boy,’ even though she knew he did wrong things, but that is not what she mean.

“She would talk to him – parents do talk to their children – but it’s up to the child to listen.”

She did not know what Lucas might have done to anyone, but knew he had been arrested multiple times for “whatever.”

“To us, he is still our brother, our uncle, our son, our everything.”

She called on parents to keep their children “under their wings” and for young people to obey their parents.

“I am a mother of three boys and I speak to them every day. I try to teach them the right things and send them to church.

“I have an 18-year-old son and he does not go anywhere. He does not smoke, he does not drink, he does not lime and he does not listen to that Trinibad music.”

She said while she does not want to blame broken homes as a possible cause of the crime situation, Lucas’s fate could possibly be attributed to it.

“He had things that affected him from his childhood. Long ago, parents never believed in therapy and seeking help, and all of that played a part.”

She called on parents to observe their children and get them help, if necessary.

“Living in a broken home without a father figure does affect children eventually.”

Lucas had four children, aged 11, seven, two and eight months. She said his’ relatives will step up to take care of the children.

“We have talked to most of them so far. We just have to fill the spot and they have our full support.”

She said before he died Lucas was not worried and did not have to “look over his shoulder.”

“His friends say he was in Grande liming whole night.

“He was never fearful or anything, he was just living his life.”

The female relative said she did not know Salandy, as the family had never met her.

Police said the possible motive is gang-related and investigations are ongoing.

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