TEENAGERS, Adesh Ramkissoon, 17, and Avinash Ryan, 14, who witnessed the shooting of Shazard Mohammed have gone into hiding.

Mohammed’s relatives told TnT Mirror the teens are scared and traumatised over the incident.

Mohammed, 25, along with Ramkissoon and Ryan were fishing last Saturday night near the Port of Spain harbour when they got into difficulties with a Coast Guard patrol vessel.

There are conflicting reports of what transpired.

The Ministry of National Security in a statement said the Coast Guard patrol challenged a suspicious boat that sped off.

The statement further stated that the boat sped off and was shot at when it tried ramming the patrol.

IMZAN KHAN ...
often fished with
SHAZARD
MOHAMMED
(below).

The statement also said that Mohammed died.

Mohammed, of Francis Lalla Street, Charlieville, however, remains unconscious in the Intensive Care Unit of the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Mohammed’s relatives have given a different account.

A relative related, “Mohammed and his crew saw a black dinghy approaching and thought it was bandit.

“They broke anchor and headed out.

“Shots were fired while the dinghy gave chase.

“Mohammed and his crew did not know they were being chased by the Coast Guard patrol.

“Suddenly the dinghy climbed into Mohammed’s boat and one Coast Guardsman came out.

“He attempted to reach for the engine and Mohammed put up resistance.

“The Coast Guard officer pulled out his gun and shot Mohammed in the shoulder and then at point blank range to the forehead.”

Mohammed reportedly fell on one of the teenagers and the boat spun out of control.

Mohammed’s boat may have hit the dinghy then, relatives said.

Mohammed’s former schoolteacher and friend, Imzan Khan said he often went fishing with Mohammed.

Khan told Mirror they normally fished in the area because of the lights coming from the harbour.

He said they get big fish in the area.

The schoolteacher said Coast Guard patrols approaching Mohammed’s boat was nothing new.

But Khan reminisced of good experiences with the Coast Guard patrols.

“The Coast Guards normally flash their lights and identify themselves from a distance. The men are usually friendly.

“They come into the boat and make checks and leave,” Khan told Mirror.

Khan said he was supposed to be out with Mohammed on the night of the incident but was out with his two sons.

Khan said Mohammed was determined to go out fishing that night.

“Mohammed had recently borrowed $7,000 to repair his engine.

Khan further noted that there was always the fear of pirates when they were fishing.

Khan said it was their habit to break anchor and flee whenever they heard the sound of a boat.

Khan described Mohammed as a humble, helpful and hard-working man.

Relatives said the sight of Mohammed on the first day after the incident was unbearable to witness.

“We could not recognise him. His tongue was out of his mouth.

“His head was swollen and his eyes looked as though they would fall out.

“He did not deserve this; he is a good person. The boy don’t drink or smoke,” the relative told Mirror.