Steven Arnold was shot in September 2007, at the end of what had been a very violent month. And the man called “Cat,” survived despite being shot in his belly. And that might have been the single flirtation with a violent death for this 34 year old – who didn’t match the demographic of “at-risk” youths who were being gunned down in the street. But it seems death was looking for Arnold and last night it found him. Jacqueline Godwin reports.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Just after three this morning in the Port Loyola area the sound of gunshots rang out – and 35 year old Steven Arnold better known as “Cat” or “Sour” was found dead. There were reportedly no witnesses to the shooting which happened at the corner of Neal Penn Road and Monroe Streets.
Eight months ago he had been shot twice and survived, but this time, it was terminal:
Halimah Flowers, Area Resident
“I noh know who do the shooting, I noh see nobody because I was in my house.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
How many shots you heard?
Halimah Flowers,
“Well I hear about five shots to be exact.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
You no hear nobody scream for help?
Halimah Flowers,
“I no hear nobody scream out, the bawl out for help- none none none. I cannot say nothing no more because I noh see. I only come out and see the body on the ground and the person who must have left a club somewhere like that.”
The family say all they know is that Steven Arnold was at a club and then left for home. But this family can’t figure out why anyone would want him dead because they say he had no enemies. But the fact is he was shot three times from close range.
Andrea O’Brien, Niece of Murder Victim
“We saw one in his jaw, we saw one in his chest, in his lower abdomen and one in his arm.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
It doesn’t sound like it is a case of mistaken identity.
Andrea O’Brien,
“Well not to us. Who did the shooting, I think they intended to kill him because it was too many shots to just be a simple shooting.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Why?
Andrea O’Brien,
“I have no idea. We’re clueless like I said before, just like everybody else. No idea.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Because I know the family is saying that he has enemies, there is no reason why anybody would want him dead. But about eight months ago he was shot as well. So something must be happening why he’s been targeted.
Andrea O’Brien,
“We have no idea. We are trying to figure it out ourselves, no no idea. No no idea; none.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
In that incident when he was shot last September, did you believe he was the target?
Andrea O’Brien,
“I don’t know, I cannot say. I cannot and I will not. Like I said everything is just a mystery waiting to be solved. I have no idea.”
The family claims when they last saw Steven Arnold late Sunday night he was on his bicycle. Today they do not where his property is and they are troubled by word on the street that he was seen walking just before he was shot.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Did Steven ever talk to the family about the recent shootings that have been happening and wondering whether or not his own life was in danger?
Andrea O’Brien,
“No not really. I don’t think that he thought that his time was going to come any soon, like this morning. Everybody want the shootings to stop but I don’t think he thought his life would go this fast, so soon.”
But it is not the first time that area residents have been awakened by the sound of gun shots. In fact they say it has been happening too frequently. Today they are calling on the police to increase patrols in their neighbourhood.
Halimah Flowers,
“We need more, we need lot of that behind here because too much, too much, too much. We need lot of police behind here, lot because bullets don’t have no name. When they are scattering shooting, the bullets can come through this house and this house is like a sieve and kids are in that house too and it is a lot, not a little bit – a lot. And for them to be shooting guns around here, it sounded so scary last night I told my boyfriend to don’t even move, don’t get up.”
A cry that caught the attention of Superintendent of Police Edward Broaster who is now director of the newly reinstituted Conscious Youth Development Programme. Broaster says their mission is to peacefully intervene and help bring an end to the gun violence.
Supt. Edward Broaster, Director – CYDP
“As a matter of fact earlier this morning we went in that area to find out what was the problem with respect to that shooting so as to avoid any retaliation or anything of that sort. And we are engaging the target area so that we don’t have any retaliation have them understand what is happening and so we too can understanding what is happening and take necessary steps to prevent any further escalation.”
Andrea O’Brien,
“We don’t want justice. He is already dead and by having justice or by point hands won’t bring him back. The only thing we want now is to have a peaceful burial, that’s all. We don’t care about the justice part. That won’t bring take any of our pain, all we want is a peaceful and quick burial now.”
Jacqueline Godwin for 7NEWS.
Presently, police have no one detained for the murder.
