Gang leader shot dead after fete

By NALINEE SEELAL Monday, September 17 2007

KERWIN PHILLIP, alias “Fresh”, the head of the G-Unit gang, was shot 20 times by gunmen armed with semi-automatic guns, while walking to his car at the corner of Oxford and Henry Streets, Port-of-Spain, at about 1.45 am yesterday.

A stray bullet also struck firefighter Natasha McNicolls, 34, in the face and up to yesterday, she was listed in stable condition at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. The shooting death of Phillip caused patrons attending a fete at the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at Henry Street, to scramble to safety bringing an end to the party.

According to reports, Phillip of Charford Court, Port-of-Spain, attended a $40 fete with a female friend at the CWU Hall on Saturday night. At about 1.45 am yesterday, he left the party and was walking towards his car barebacked. Reports revealed that he was confronted by two men armed with a Galil rifle and another with a 9 mm gun. The gunman began firing shots at Phillip who slumped to the ground. His female companion managed to escape unhurt and police reports revealed that a group of persons fleeing the fete robbed Phillip of his jewelry.

Firefighter McNicolls who was on duty at the fete was shot in the face by a stray bullet which remained lodged in her jaw. Yesterday, she underwent emergency surgery to remove the bullet. Her common-law husband, who is also a firefighter based at the Wrightson Road Fire Headquarters, was at her bedside all of yesterday, praying for her recovery.

Phillip, 34, was a deportee from the United States, and was well known to the police. His brother is a police constable. On September 3 last year, he was one of the many gang leaders who signed a truce to put a stop to gang killings along the East/West Corridor. Reports revealed that Phillip also got a government contract to build a health centre at Charford Court.

On March 15, 2005, Phillip and another man Nazim Christian, of East Dry River, Port-of-Spain, appeared before Port-of-Spain Magistrate Avason Quinlan charged with armed robbery and possession of arms and ammunition.

On May 4, 2005, Christian was shot dead by the police at Basilon Street, Port-of-Spain. Police reported that Christian shot at them and they returned fire.

Police investigators told Newsday that based on information received, Phillip was ordered executed by the head of a San Juan based gang. They added that they expect reprisal killings as a result of the death of Phillip.

At Charford Court, Port-of-Spain, friends and gang members of the G-Unit told Newsday that with the death of their leader, the country will witness several murders. “We will deal with the people responsible for the death of ‘Fresh,’” insisted the gang members yesterday.

Most of the G-Unit gang members have tattoos on their backs or abdomen with the markings G-Unit. The killing of Phillip pushed the murder toll to 237 for the year thus far. Officers of the Homicide Bureau are investigating.

You know what continues to fockin baffle me.

How come the police and media have all this information on these mudder cont criminals. How they was deported and what gang they belong to and all sort ah fockin shit. But they continue to parade dey mudder cont in fete and here and there and everywhere continuing with dey fockin banditry.

Wa happen? It doh have Police to monitor these people? What d fock dey does be doing so?

This is real fockery.