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Teenager Killed In Violence-Ridden Area
posted (August 14, 2012)
There was another murder in the city last night - and this time, a 16 year old was killed.

It happened in the same general area where 11 year old Carline Pinto was shot up on Saturday morning, and where 18 year old Kendis Pike was killed two weeks ago.

And now it's a 16 year old in a widening spiral of violence stemming from an all out war between rival gangs. Monica Bodden found out about this most recent teen murder:...

Monica Bodden reporting
The murder of 16 year old Kirk Hemmans happened here at the corner of Kut Avenue and Fairweather Street just after 10:30 last night.

This huge bloodstain in the middle of the street indicates the exact spot where the teenager took his last breath.

Hemmans - who was riding his bicycle on Kut Avenue into Fairweather Street - was approached from behind by a gunman who fired the fatal shot at him - hitting him once to the right upper back.

The murderer then rode off on Kut Avenue and headed in the direction of Kraal Road.

Yvonne Miller- Grandmother
"Kirk and I were sitting out here last night, he went to buy 2 beers at the shop and after that he came and was relaxing on that bench over there. After a while he said that he was going to buy fry chicken because he was hungry. When he was coming back they say that he was shot. We went out there but the police had already taken him."

Hemmans grew up most his life on Benbow Street - right across form the Pinto's house that was shot up on Saturday morning.

Today we found the entire community grieving the loss of this young man whom they all described to us as a helpful individual.

Gayla Obrien - Neighbour
"Kirk had a complete change in his life. He grew up on Benbow Street but then he used to hang out on Supal Street. We told him that Supal Street is not good to hang out. Then he ease off on hanging out on Supal Street and he came here to work with me every day."

"I cook food and he usually comes to deliver food every day. Kirk is a very loving person. First he used to hang out at Supal Street and since he came at my house - to me, my house is like a house of refuge, I always have a lot of young men here and since Kirk came to my house he had made a complete turn in his life. He told me 'Ms. Gayla, I don't want to go back at Supal Street again' so I told him to stay here. He work for me right here and we live together as one. When he comes in the morning, he doesn't usually go home until night time."

But like the lyrics of the famous Buju Banton song goes- circumstances made me who I am - Hemmans is just one more added on the long list of black young men whose lives all ended by gun violence in the city's streets.

Gayla Obrien - Neighbour
"It's very difficult for me because when he comes in the morning I would ask him if he will eat or drink tea and he would say 'no Ms. Gayla.' He likes to sing songs and I would dance in the morning, so it's very hard for me."

Monica Bodden
"It's like you lost a son."

Gayla Obrien - Neighbour
"Yes ma'am. it's very hard for every one of us around here. Why it hurts so bad it's because he is the second one - last week Monday we just buried one and today another one gone again. Yesterday Kirk and I went to the fish market and we went to the other market to buy fruits. Kirk was with me riding a bike but I knew that he was afraid. I told him that I just wanted to pray that we made it back home, I am so sad that that happened to him."

"To me its looks like the youths doesn't have any future. Then it's so terrible because people have so much hatred in their heart, so it's very hard. For me right now, If someone asks me if I would want to have a child, I would never ever want to raise a child in a country like this - this is really terrible."

Police do have the name of a suspect - who is also from the area - and whose name has been come up in the recent spate of violence. But there is some encouraging news: Carline Pinto - the 11 year old who was shot four times on Saturday morning is doing better. Her family tells us that she is doing very well, is fully alert and is making a recovery.

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