VISIBLY distraught onlookers at the scene where 15-year-old Chester Forbes Jr was killed in a drive- by shooting on Monday. Photo: Dante Carrer
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
THE 15-year-old boy murdered on Monday was just taking out the garbage when he was killed, his relatives said yesterday as they grappled with why someone would kill their “mannerly”, “decent nephew”.
Chester Forbes, Jr, and his older brother were walking on First Street when the occupants of a grey vehicle opened fire in their direction on Monday, killing the boy whose brother remained unharmed.
Antonio Munroe, the uncle of the deceased, who was affectionately called “Pigeon”, lived next door to his nephew and said the news of the boy’s death has hit him hard.
“Every day I come home from work, Pigeon would greet me, uncle uncle uncle, and he would interact with me every day for about thirty minutes to an hour, every day, skylark with me,” he said.
Mr Munroe, who has no children, said his nephew was the son he never had. He described him as quiet and mannerly.
“You could see this boy is a child,” Mr Munroe said. “Obviously, whatever happened, they know that wasn’t their target. I don’t know why they went there and shot him. That’s a child, bey. Six times he got shot. I have a problem with that.”
Garin Seymour also believes his nephew was not the intended target, saying he did not live a life of crime.
“He loved his video games,” he said. “Very mannerly, but he would spend 24 hours a day, if he had to or if he could, playing his video games.”
“Not no gang, don’t keep no company. The only company he keeps is his family.”
“He isn’t no gang banger. He is not a troublesome person.”
“Everybody knows that he wasn’t the intended target. So sad that he was coming out to empty the garbage and became a victim of gunshots, and he was not the target.”
Forbes, Jr, was his father’s only child, relatives said. The father declined to talk to the press.
Comments
John 2 months, 1 week ago
That is tge reason why these murders must be solved and a court trial must take place! The media paints a picture that many of these killings are as a result of gang violence and whilst the police admit there are some gang activity, who is to say that many , many of these young boys who are being shot deaf are NOT involved in crime or gangs. And the fact that even when a suspect is captured and charged, less than fifty percent of these suspects make it to court . Can’t you see tge dominoes in effect and will continue falling if the first one isn’t stopped from falling? So when the suspect is released from jail, even on bail he too is gunned down. Does that prove he is innocent or guilty? And if he is innocent doesn’t that give the guilty person an escape route and the opportunity to kill again? Recently when a young man ( under the age of 20) was killed, there were several ‘ talks’ in the streets as to why the man was murdered. None of the rumors indicated the man was involved in any crime, but the police report hinted at gang activity and to ‘be cautious with whom you keep company with. But some of the stories say it was about a girl he was involved with, one said it was to do with a misunderstanding he had with someone on his job… the point is if people who are not involved in criminal activity are being gunned down and being brushed off as ‘young criminals’ or ‘gang bangers’ this problem is more serious than one would think. Basically no young Bahamian male is safe in New Providence. And a lot of the cries from mothers ‘they killed my baby, my good son’ are as genuine as tge screams , tge hurt, tge pain that she and many others will endure for years to come, Then GOD will judge!
bahamianson 2 months, 1 week ago
And his older brother were walking. What is the story on the older brother? Let the story come out on the older brother, then we can stop speculating. I am no assuming anything until I hear the full story. A fri3nd of mine told me that he would not go to extended family parties because drug dealers were always present. If you were not among the crows found, you would be home safe and sound. Let us hear the full story.
Sickened 2 months, 1 week ago
We all know that gangs often target family members if they either can't get to the person they want or if they want to send a message to a person in that family. It may be that this kid was just used to send a message. So sad.
birdiestrachan 2 months, 1 week ago
May his soul rest in peace and. His love one find comfort in the God of all comfort
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