Vincentian shot to death in Trinidad

On Page 1 of our last edition – May 25, 2007 – we tried to bring you the complete story about the tragic death of Michael King but somehow the Printer’s Devil got his way and a portion of the story was left out. We apologise, and today we bring you the complete story.

A hard working, friendly, all-round nice Vincentian man lost his life in Trinidad last Saturday, May19, reportedly because of a love affair with a woman whose boyfriend happened to be a reputed gangster.{{more}}

Michael King, 41, of Trincity, Trinidad was shot dead by two masked men in what Trinidad detectives believe to be a well thought out and calculated hit ordered by the jealous gangster.

King, originally from Richland Park left St Vincent for Trinidad as a little boy with his mother, shortly after La Soufriere erupted in April, 1979. He was one of his deceased parents’ six children.

Now his uncle Maurice King, a farmer of Richland Park, is wondering why his nephew’s life had to end in such a way.

“He was such a cool, likeable person, he was here up to two weeks ago, I can’t believe it,” Maurice said when SEARCHLIGHT visited his home.

Present when King was shot at his home, was his niece who along with a friend had gone to Trinidad on Saturday to buy steel windows for a house under construction in Richland Park.

King’s niece, police in Trinidad report, was grazed on her leg by a bullet, but both women were spared by the gun men.

According to Trinidad police, King, who met the woman at the centre of the love triangle at a gym where they both worked out, fell in the first hail of bullets.

The gunmen then stood over him and shot him several more times.

King, who died shortly after, was hit about five times and police discovered 13 9-mm shells in the yard.

“I spoke to them and they are still traumatized, the girls can hardly speak,” Maurice told SEARCHLIGHT.

Both women are still in Trinidad assisting police in their investigations.

Maurice’s son Shorn King said that he is still shaken by the news of his cousin’s death.

Amelia King, Maurice’s wife said that she is still at a loss to understand what happened.

Maurice said that the funeral service for Michael was scheduled for Monday, May 28 in Trinidad, and that many of his relatives including his brothers and sisters in North America were planning to be there.

He said that he will always remember his nephew as a decent, friendly young man.

At press time police in Trinidad were continuing their investigations. (KJ)