T&T gang kills son of calypsonian Contender

(Trinidad Express) THE SON of calypsonian Mark John, aka Contender, was felled by bullets yesterday during a shoot-out with members of a gang from an area known as “Resurrection” in Carenage.

Marcus John, the victim, was aged 24 and lived in Laventille.

Around noon yesterday, Marcus John and another man, Kevin Morris, of Seaview in Carenage, drove over to Resurrection, off Haig Street, Carenage.

No one could say why the two went there, but residents reported hearing several gunshots, and John was seen firing at a group of men who returned fire.

Police were unable to say if Morris was also firing shots.

Police said during the shoot-out, John and Morris ran to John’s green-coloured Nissan B14 Sentra car, but by that time, two gunmen approached them and fired even more shots, but this time at close range.

John was killed on the spot while Morris ran into some bushes off Haig Street and ran down a precipice.

The gunmen broke off their chase, and Morris was later picked up by police who took him to the St James Medical Complex, following which he was transferred to the Port of Spain General Hospital.

He remained there in stable condition up to press time last night.

Mark John, who was contacted by the Express yesterday afternoon, said, “Well, I heard he went to drop someone in Carenage and he was shot, but I really don’t know the story as I have not left home for the day.”

He said he is very distraught as Marcus was his first son, “so, of course, I am very upset about this. He’s my first son, but you know life have to go on”.

The murder toll stood at 372 up to press time last night. —Gyasi Gonzales