Another G-Unit gangster slain

Source: T&T's Newsday
By RHONDOR DOWLAT Wednesday, January 9 2008

A 22-YEAR-OLD man who was questioned by police in connection with over 20 murders committed in a three-year period, was himself murdered outside an apartment building in Cocorite yesterday.

However, investigators claimed the mortally wounded man was taken by persons unknown to Port-of-Spain General Hospital. He was dropped off at the Accident and Emergency Department by the persons who left without telling hospital officials anything. When doctors checked on the man, he was already dead.

The victim was identified as Keiron “Blood” Burnette of Waterhole, Harding Place. Police said he was a member of the G-Unit gang. According to a police report, at about 10.30 am, residents of Building 5, heard several loud explosions and on checking, saw blood on the ground and a car speeding off.

An investigating officer yesterday confirmed that Burnette was a member of the G-Unit gang and was questioned numerous times for murders in Port-of-Spain, Cocorite and surrounding areas. However, the officer said that a motive was yet to be determined.

Burnette, police said, had several matters pending before the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court for firearms possession, shooting and wounding. At the scene yesterday, family members and residents refused to comment on the incident.

On September 16, leader of the G-Unit gang, Kerwin “Fresh” Phillip of Charford Court was shot 20 times by gunmen armed with semi-automatic guns, while walking to his car at the corner of Oxford and Henry Streets, Port-of-Spain at about 1.45 am. He died on the spot.

Another member of the gang, Allan “Mento” Wills of Siparia Hill, East Dry River, was gunned down three days later, on September 19 near the Corner of Prescott Alley and Quarry Street in Port-of-Spain.

On October 5 at about 9 am another gang member Kwame “Butters” Julian, 26, was seen standing along Observatory Street talking to a taxi driver when a lone gunman walked up behind him and shot him in the back. Police said that when Julian slumped to the ground, the gunman stood over him and fired several shots killing him instantly. Police confirmed that he was shot more than three times in the head and back.

Investigations are continuing.

To put it mildly, I'm not sorry that Keiron “Blood” Burnette was shot dead. To put it even less mildly, I don't mind if other members of his G-Unit gang and members of other gangs, suffer the same fate. What's the point of wasting state resources to stop gang members from killing one another? Wouldn't these resources be better spent protecting innocent and hard-working citizens from these same gang members who's past time - when not shooting each other at point blank range - is terrorising the hard-working populace of Trinidad and Tobago?

I say let them kill each other. The last time Manning organised his little meeting of "community leaders" in Crowne Plaza Hotel to stop the gang warfare. The end result was a sudden rise in criminal activity in Central and South Trinidad. You see, when these gangs are not warring with one another, they find other things to do, like rob, rape, murder and kidnap your average, hard-working citizen.

Gang warfare is the best thing that could ever happen to Trinidad. Put the joint army/police patrols in Central and South Trinidad, where criminals are more likely to strike. These gangs are doing the Government and the General Public a favour by slaughtering each other. Let them be I say! Just make sure when they (the gangs) settle their differences and kiss and make up, that the police and army are ready to come out in full force to protect the hard-working citizens who are trying to make and honest dollar, from these same gangs who will be looking to terrorise the population.