A 16-year-old boy in Trinidad lost his life after he was shot in what police say was a targeted attack gone wrong. Officials believe that the fatal bullet that struck the teen was fired at his father, with whom the teen was when it happened on Monday night.
According to reports, the gun attack occurred just outside their home in La Horquetta. The deceased, Ezekiel Moore, was hanging out with his father when the dad received a phone call, according to preliminary reports. Moore’s father answered the phone and went outside. Moore accompanied his father outside as the pair were still conversing. Meanwhile, two armed men were allegedly spotted standing on a pavement near the home.
Authorities said gunfire erupted shortly after, sending people scrambling for safety. Police say the gunmen were firing in the direction of Moore’s father, who reportedly tried to run back inside the house. After the shots subsided, Moore and his father were found suffering from gunshot wounds. Police believe that one of the bullets deflected and hit the teenager.
Both Moore and his father were transported to the hospital following the attack. Medical personnel later pronounced the 16-year-old Malabar Secondary School student dead, while his father was treated for his injuries and released.
The shooting has left relatives and neighbours shaken. Investigators continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the deadly attack. Police believe Moore was not the intended target and that the gunmen had directed their actions toward his father.
Officers responded to reports of the shooting and processed the scene as part of an ongoing probe. Detectives are now working to identify the suspects involved and establish a motive behind the attack.
Trinidad authorities reported that, with Moore’s death, the number of murders recorded nationally since the start of the year has reached 46, exceeding the 44 reported at this point last year.