And so with the death of 39 year old Gladden and 17 year old Lemoth - the weekend was already loaded with murder cases - but last night, another occurred - and it was another teenager.
It happened at around 9:00 last night on Dolphin Street where 18 year old Steven Perez a working young man who is also going to school - was gunned down by a man on bike. He died this morning.
It's the same formula of ruthless killing by street decree - but for the family of this promising young man it's made more so because he had a mission in life. Now it's gone - and while the family was too bereft to speak, Monica Bodden spoke to bystanders:…
Monica Bodden Reporting
18 year old Steven Perez - was an employee of Home Protectors Insurance Company and a second year student at St Johns sixth form - he was majoring in accounting.
But last night this ambitious young man who had a bright future, was violently shot up - 7 times on Dolphin Street.
This was the yard he ran into and collapsed after he was shot - the bloodstains had to be washed off this cement. Steven Perez was shot 7 times in the chest, abdomen, right and left arm.
Marsha Smith, Resident
"We didn't see anything because we were in here. We didn't know that that child was standing outside. I didn't know my daughter was talking to him, when she came in the yard, she made like two steps to go up the steps. As she went the shots star ring. I thought it was dynamite but then I hear pop - pop - pop then I tell everybody to scatter - to run and get cover. After everybody scatter and before the last shot burst we ran outside but still didn't see the person."
Monica Bodden
"How many shots you heard?"
Marsha Smith, Resident
"About 9."
Marsha Smith who asked to appear off camera - is the Southside Masqueraders Leader - It was her who rushed 18 year old Perez to the hospital.
Marsha Smith, Resident
"I didn't know it was Steven outside. I saw the person after the last shot was fired and I hear the person crying in pain and then I ran towards my gate and he was running inside my gate and he say 'help me' then he went to daughter who turn back down the steps to see who got shot - my daughter pushes him because he was covered in blood. After that I comfort him and I told my daughter to lets carry him and I told him that he can't die in this yard. My daughter and I lifted him up and tell him that we will not let him die, we will save him and that we will take him to the hospital. We put him in my niece vehicle and we rush him to the hospital. We try to save him and this morning about 9-10 he pass away."
Monica Bodden
"You notice where he got shot?"
Marsha Smith, Resident
"Well when I hold him last night I saw one in his chest and in his stomach but I am not sure. I just see the blood running. I see one in his buttocks and one in his leg but I didn't see the rest. I think he got 6 shots. It's so sad."
Monica Bodden
"Was he conscious while going to the hospital?"
Marsha Smith, Resident
"Well my daughter slaps him up in his face telling him to get up Steven don't do this to us. She keep him up all the way to the hospital because when he drop in my hands he said 'Ms. Marsha help me' I told him that I will help him."
Many believe that Perez -who is described as a quiet young man - may have been mistaken for someone else.
Marsha Smith, Resident
"Apparently coming from the store with my daughter and she tell him to wait - that she is coming back. Nobody didn't see anyone dodging you know. If my daughter knows she would have tell him to wait there. We didn't expect this because that child was to register at St. John's sixth form to go to school tomorrow. He really wanted to go back to school to finish, that's why he went to work. His parents help him, they look out for him. He is a mannerly child and he doesn't give trouble that's why we wonder if they took him for somebody else."
Police say they have detained a 17-year old student pending investigations.
