Murder of dad, daughter, 5, rocks Moruga… Gunman sprays 17 bullets at victims

As he swept up shattered glass from in front of his dead son’s business place, Andy Guerra sobbed silently, whispering, “Oh God, why do you take the good ones?”

His friend later took the broom from his trembling hands and started to sweep, but upon seeing blood through the shattered doorway, the friend also could not contain his grief, muttering, “Why they didn’t stop shooting when they see the child?”

Guerra’s son, Moruga businessman Enrico Guerra, and his five-year-old daughter, Anika, were shot dead on Tuesday night by a masked gunman who fired 17 bullets at Enrico’s Corner Mart at Poui Trace, St Mary’s Village, Moruga.

The killings pushed the toll for the year to 401, 22 more than at the same period last year.

While police were pursuing a lead last evening, investigations were said to be at a sensitive stage.

Anika, a preschooler, was shot multiple times on the left side of her face, her lower back, and her arm. Police believe the bullets were meant for her father, who had refused to accede to certain demands.

The child succumbed to her injuries at the Princes Town Hospital at 10.20 pm, less than half an hour after the shooting. Guerra died on the spot inside the minimart located on the ground floor of his home.

Police said Guerra had been outside with his friend Justin Weston, 30, of St Mary’s Village, at 9.45 pm, when the gunman opened fire on them. Guerra’s wife, Anastacia Hamilton, was inside the minimart at the time combing her daughter’s hair.

Police reported that when the gunshots started, Guerra tried to escape by running inside his mart, but was closely followed by the masked gunman.

Hamilton took cover, trying to shield her daughter as gunshots ricocheted around them. When the gunfire stopped, Guerra was lying dead but Anika was still alive.

Weston suffered a gunshot wound to his right forearm and was discharged from the hospital.

When Guardian Media visited the site yesterday, former People’s National Movement (PNM) councillor and community activist Francis Paul, a close family friend, was among those gathered.

Paul wept as he hugged Andy Guerra and lamented the senseless loss of lives.

“This is heartless,” Paul said.

“Words can’t describe. How they could kill that baby girl.”

Paul expressed frustration with the state of crime in the country.

“Some time ago, they had total policing. Why the police don’t have roadblocks? The criminals moving in vehicles, if they have roadblocks they will find them. This thing is frightening. This is my partner’s son and grandchild.

“We wish that the Commissioner of Police and Minister of National Security could feel what we feeling now. The average person not feeling safe. All over Trinidad hot now, you are not safe in your own house, that is unfair. This is madness.”

Reflecting on the economic impact of crime, Paul continued, “You don’t see all the businesses closing down? People paying tax, as you open a new business, or contractors come to work… Look them fellas taxing, and they taxing. Look, in Lengua a fella walking with a gun in his waist. All contracts in Moruga being taxed. If we know about it, how police don’t know? Is madness taking place in this country.”

He said criminals were roaming freely and “armed mercenaries” were taking innocent lives.

“Those criminals don’t care about party card. Look, my partner crying. The criminals are getting away with it. That not right. It not right. The police have to do the investigation. I want them to catch them, block roads, kick down doors, bring in the army, have joint patrols. Is every day people are being killed. There are armed mercenaries in Trinidad, and they will buy a gun and shoot you down,” Paul said.

Speaking briefly at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, Enrico’s mother, Hesper Alidarsoo, said she was preparing to leave the country to celebrate her wedding anniversary.

“I was at the hairdresser when I got the call. That is my first child and last grandchild in there,” she said, pointing at the undertaker’s vehicle with her relatives.

Alidarsoo said before her granddaughter was born, her son would “wine down low,” but all of that changed for his “princess,” to whom he dedicated his life.

She said the double killing had left her feeling surreal, as she never expected to be at the FSC dealing with the murders of her child and grandchild.

Moruga councillor Joseph Lorant also expressed sorrow, writing on social media: “May you have the strength at this time to overcome this. Enrico was indeed a good person who loved his daughter dearly. May their souls rest in perfect peace.”

The police were hunting underfor a suspect last night.

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