RESIDENTS of St. John’s Road in St. Augustine are pleading with law enforcement agencies to do something about the burgeoning drug trade in their neighbourhood before it becomes another Morvant or Laventille.

A long-time resident of the area told TnT Mirror last week that he fears for his own life and the lives of his family members since a young man visiting the area was shot and killed in what might be a case of mistaken identity.

Two Sundays ago, Keston Daniel, a construction worker from Cocorite attended a wedding in St. John’s Road, and was liming with friends and relatives at the corner of Noel Street and St. John’s Road when a car pulled up and one of the occupants fired at the group, killing Daniel and wounding one other person.

Days later, three persons were detained by police in connection with the murder, but have since been released.

While police seem to believe Daniel’s slaying was the result of his connections with the underworld, others believe gunmen might have killed the wrong person.

Mirror’s Police sources gave very little information on the shooting, except to say that they believe the incident was a gang-related revenge hit following events originating in the Cocorite area, but some St. John’s Road residents were more forthcoming.

One resident, speaking on the condition of strict anonymity, said he believed the fatal shooting was a case of mistaken identity, and the shot was really called for a very close relative of Daniel’s who lives in the area.

The relative is said to be “deeply involved in the drug trade,” and has brought an unprecedented level of danger to the once safe and quiet neighbourhood that sits in the shadow of the peaceful Mt. St. Benedict Monastery.

The residents are asking the St. Joseph Police to maintain a stronger patrol presence in the area and to take steps to clean up the existing drug menace before it becomes a permanent feature of life in their community.