Tyrel Robinson Killed After Escaping Previous Shooting

Twenty-seven-year-old Tyrel Robinson had survived an attempt on his life before, but on Monday evening, he was gunned down shortly after five o’clock. Tonight, police are still trying to determine who carried out the attack and what led to the deadly violence. Robinson worked at the Michael Finnegan Market, and while he had previous run-ins with the law, those who knew him describe him as hardworking and friendly. Now, his murder has left one troubling question behind: why was he targeted? News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

On Monday evening, chaos erupted on West Collet Canal as gunfire erupted just after five p.m. Twenty-seven-year-old Tyrel Robinson was serving a customer at Jun’s Meat Shop inside the Michael Finnegan Market when an armed man approached and opened fire. According to his employer, Aaron Castillo, the incident has left many vendors shaken.

 

Aaron Castillo, Employer of Deceased

“I mi de right yah when dat mi di happen but I mi di serve and the same time when I hear the gunshot gone off. And when i spin round da when I see what mi di happen. I run out because I no know what da di intention ah di bally ney weh do it. I no know who all the come or if ney bally do ney thing and then we deh inna ney way anybody could get hurt.”

 

Robinson had been working at Jun’s Meat Shop for the past six months, and according to Castillo, he was trying to turn his life around. His past, however, was complicated. In 2019, police charged him after he allegedly snatched a gold chain from Magistrate Tanisha Smith near the Michael Finnegan Market. He was later charged with theft, attempted theft, and damage to property. Then in 2023, Robinson told police that two men on bicycles attacked him outside his Bocotora Street home. One of them opened fire, but Robinson managed to run inside and escape unharmed. Despite all of that, Castillo says he gave Robinson a job because he believed the young man wanted a second chance.

 

Aaron Castillo

“I mi watch pan ah and ih mi look like ney lee street bwai but I give the man a chance because he mi look like he mi want change his life. An alright young man, he mi di behave as far as I mi know. The man mi do behave bu I no know weh gone on with this lately accident weh happen.”

 

Robinson leaves behind a young daughter, and those who worked with him say he was friendly and easy to get along with.

Aaron Castillo

“So far the man da mi ah good man and he mi serve the people ney good. People mi like the man. When people come buy ney mi like the man. He treat ney with love and thing.”

 

Witnesses say police were quick to arrive at the scene but are now calling for increased police presence at the market, with armed officers stationed at the gates.

 

Aaron Castillo

“I think they should do better because lotta people come buy ya and fi mek thing like this di happen inna di market. They have three gates, I believe each gate supposed to have a security and nobody fi come in with helmet or nothing di cover ney face.”

 

Police have yet to make a formal arrest. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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