In Dangriga, Death Came for Gabriel Laurie at Home
Gabriel Laurie Jr.
Another Dangriga resident was murdered today, making it the second homicide in that municipality over the past three days. While both incidents may not be related, investigators are tonight piecing together details of what may have led to the shooting death of Gabriel Laurie Junior, who was callously rubbed out inside his house this morning. The family believes that the slaying of their loved one is the result of a misunderstanding he had with another man a few days ago. This afternoon, News Five’s Isani Cayetano traveled to Dangriga and has the following story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Forty-two-year-old Gabriel Laurie was inside his home this morning when death came knocking at his front door. Someone had made his way up the wooden flight of stairs and waited for a chance to ambush the unsuspecting resident. When the opportunity presented itself moments later, Laurie was met with a deadly fusillade. Neighbors say they heard as many as five gunshots echo from inside the elevated structure. One of those rounds found its mark on Gabriel’s neck.
Voice of: Raedawn Laurie, Sister of Deceased
“We got the call, my mom got the call. They called my mom and told her that he got stabbed and then after that we got another call and then we got a call that actually he got shot up. But when we went to the morgue we saw that it was only one single shot to to his neck.”
A motive for the fatal attack is yet to be established. It is, however, the second murder in less than a week that Dangriga police are tasked with investigating. The latest incident took place here in the Wageirale community around ten o’clock. The barrage of gunfire shattered the mid-morning silence.
Voice of: Raedawn Laurie
“I cyant really seh what happened to mi bredda, but then we just get the news this morning that he got shot.”
According to Laurie’s younger sister who asked not to appear on camera, he told her several days ago about an altercation with an unnamed individual. That man, she says, had ventured onto the property in pursuit of her sibling.
Voice of: Raedawn Laurie
“A week ago, he personally told me that he had a problem with a certain young man and he told me that the young man came all the way to his house and they had a shuffle and I asked him what caused the shuffle and he didn‘t answer me. He didn‘t tell me da affa what, he noh seh nothing. He just tell me that he and the young man had this shuffle. Dat da all I know.”
In the wake of the shooting, CIB personnel are following all leads in this case, including the angle of a misunderstanding turned homicide.
Voice of: Raedawn Laurie
“The police got in touch with us and dehn seh dat dehn di work and everything and dat how, actually I hyah dehn pick up one person already and dehn really sound like dehn di do something bout it and I hope we get justice. We really di tek it haad because we were all close. We were close, close, close, especially me and he. So we di tek it really rough because ih neva deserve fi dead dis way. He noh deserve it.”
Isani Cayetano
“In terms of the police investigation, you mentioned earlier that your brother had confided in you that there was an incident involving another young man a week ago. Were you able to, either yourself or members of the family, assist the family with the name this person?”
Voice of: Raedawn Laurie
“Yes. We know the person with who ih had the problem with. We know the person.”
Gabriel, known to others as Termite, is described by his loved ones as an easygoing person who spent considerable time with his family. The grief-stricken sister is pleading with authorities to do all within their means to solve this recent murder.
Voice of: Raedawn Laurie
“He da mi wahn very joyful person, always friendly. He loves sports. He loves his kids, you know. He always goh round, check on his mom and mek sure that we‘re okay and things like that, you know. He mi very close to we.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
