Mitchell Anthony Modeste

For the past eight months maxi taxi driver Mitchell Anthony Modeste, 27, had been forced to live the life of a fugitive after he was accused of being in a relationship with a close female relative of a prisoner and several threats were made on his life from behind prison walls.

Grieving relatives told Newsday that the one chance Modeste took to venture outside the family’s Teelucksingh Street East home, cost him his life on Saturday night. Modeste, also called “Baby Lou” and father to seven-year-old Malaki Modeste, was gunned down in cold blood about 100 metres from his home while on his way to a nearby parlour. Relatives who responded to the sound of six gunshots, said they rushed outside only to find Modeste’s bullet-riddled body lying on his back in the middle of the road in a pool of blood. He was already dead. The gunmen had already fled the scene. Modeste had survived two previous attempts on his life, relatives told Newsday. Modeste is believed to be the fifth man to be killed as a result of the allegation that he was involved in a relationship with the relative of a prisoner.


Distraught relatives denied yesterday, that the slain man was ever involved in any relationship with the woman. Relatives said it was only a few weeks ago that Modeste returned to the area as he had been hiding out at the homes of different relatives across the country given the threats on his life. One relative recalled that late last year, gunmen fired several shots at Modeste but missed and that on another occasion, as a gunman pursued him, the magazine fell out of the gun. According to a police report, at about 7 pm on Saturday Modeste was at Teelucksingh Street East, California when he was shot several times by gunmen who opened fire on him, before they escaped in a waiting vehicle. Investigators are working on the theory that the killing was a hit. Weeping sister, Melissa Modeste, 26, said, “Is eight months now he living like a fugitive. He goes nowhere as he was always in fear of his life. Since returning here, the furthest he would reach is by the gate. Relatives said he even cut off his dreadlocks as he tried to assume a different look to stay alive.” Melissa said numerous reports of the threats made on her brother’s life were made to the Couva Police Station. She continued, “They would always ignore him when he reported the matter and they even chased him from the station. 

“He sought help at the San Fernando Police Headquarters where he met with ACP Fitzroy Frederick. He was the only police officer who tried to protect him and he really did his best. He had officers check on him regularly and they would keep a close eye on him. It was only so much he could do,” she said. Modeste’s girlfriend, Vintra Balchand, 23, wept uncontrollably at the news of Modeste’s murder yesterday. She said, “I am devastated because not much was done to help him. I am disappointed in the way police in Couva treated with him. They used to run him out the station when he went to make reports. Baby Lou should have been placed in a safe house since the threats began.” Balchand said her boyfriend’s life had become a living hell following the allegations. “He was such a loving and giving person. He was forced to live this way because of rumours.” When contacted yesterday, ACP Frederick confirmed that he knew of the case and had personally dealt with Modeste. He told Newsday, “I am aware of the case and I was working with the young man. It is very sad what eventually happened.” Officers of the Southern Homicide Unit and Couva Police Station are conducting investigations.


Update: Autopsy confirms man was murdered

Wednesday, February 29 2012

AN AUTOPSY carried out on Monday at the Forensic Science Centre in St James has revealed that California maxi taxi driver Mitchell Anthony Modeste, 27, died as a result of shock and haemorrhage consistent with multiple gunshot wounds.

Modeste also known as “Baby Lou” was shot five times with one of the bullets penetrating his left eye.
He was also shot twice in the lower spine and once on the left ear and shoulder, the report stated.
According to a police report, at about 7 pm last Saturday, Modeste of Teelucksingh Street East, California, who had been hiding out for the past eight months following threats made on his life, was on his way to make a purchase at a nearby parlour when he was shot and killed.

His bullet-riddled body was found lying in the road in a pool of blood.

More is expected on this story.

Killer Virus Is Infecting British Lambs

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Sky's Emma Birchley reports.

I certainly won't be eating any lamb for a long time.

Jungle justice after girl's death

After the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Ladonna Lewis in west Kingston, information now reaching THE STAR is that one of the men responsible for the act was shot to death the very same day in a quick case of jungle justice.

Police reports state that about 4 p.m. last Friday, residents heard explosions and found Ladonna suffering from gunshot wounds on the roadway. She was assisted to the Kingston Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Information from the community is that while the teen was at the hospital, word was issued to the group of thugs believed to be behind the shooting that should the girl die one of them would be killed in return. The promise was not to go unfulfilled as further chilling reports from residents are that shortly after the girl died, a teen from the group of attackers was shot to death and buried at a nearby cemetery.

Some others who were involved in the incident have since fled the community while some were bitterly beatenTHE STAR was further told.

One resident of the west Kingston community where the tragedy unfolded said the matter was one in which the gun went off accidentally and the teen's death was not an intentional killing.

When contacted, Superintendent Hugh Bish, the head of the west Kingston Police Division, told THE STAR last night that the claims could not be confirmed. He, however, said that he heard rumours that a man said to have been involved in the death of the teen was killed by residents on the day of the incident. He said the police could not prove that this was the case and he was unaware of the claims that men had been forced out of the community and others beaten.

The Star