Relatives of labourer killed in bar attack deny he was involved in criminal activities

Senior Reporter

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Relatives of 23-year-old Isaiah John, who was gunned down in broad daylight at a bar in Penal on Sunday, insisted yesterday that he was not the intended target.

John, a labourer, was among several patrons liming at a bar next to Shantila’s Food Hut on Lachoos Road around 2 pm, when a white Nissan Tiida pulled up. Gunmen got out the vehicle and opened fire. Police said the suspects pursued John as he ran and fired more than 20 bullets. He was found bleeding under a gaming machine.

A 55-year-old welder, who was also shot in the leg during the attack, remained hospitalised yesterday.

At his Penal home yesterday, John’s aunt, Yoko Lewis, said her nephew was not involved in any criminal activity. “Apparently, they came to kill whoever was in the bar — the person they were looking for, they didn’t get… and that was it there. He wasn’t that type of person to be in no gang. He is a loving, caring person. He love his friends,” said Lewis.

John’s aunt said he had even pushed one of his friends out of harm’s way as the shooting started — possibly saving his life.

Urging the authorities to resume hangings, she said she believes it would deter people from committing murders. Lamenting that recently there was another murder in her area, Lewis also expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the current State of Emergency.

“That makes no difference at all because you put out a State of Emergency and yet still it still have killings all over the place. It makes no sense. Let the army, the police, whoever, patrol 24/7. They sit down in the station in the A/C and when you call them it don’t have no car,” she lamented.

Police recovered 13 spent 5.56 shell casings, 11 9mm casings and two live rounds at the scene.

Investigators are still working to determine a motive for the killing.