‘He was innocent,’: Family grieves and defends 15-year-old boy killed

A cousin of the schoolboy killed on Monday believes he was not the target.

“He was an innocent child,” the cousin lamented in a social media post about Chester Forbes, 15.

The family member believes he was taking out the trash around 8 am when a gunman exited a vehicle and then shot and killed him. Forbes was walking with his brother on First Street, The Grove at the time he was killed, but authorities said the older brother was not injured during the ordeal.

The family believes the gunman intended to kill someone else but shot the 15-year-old instead “because they couldn’t get who they wanted.”

“This doesn’t even feel right,” she cried.

The uncle, Antonio Munroe who lived next door to Forbes, said the killing “hit me hard”, telling the Tribune, that the boy whom he affectionately called ‘Pigeon’ was like a son who was “mannerly” and “decent.”

The two would engage in playful banter in the evenings after work.

“You could see this boy was a child. Obviously, whatever happened, they know that wasn’t their target. I don’t know why they went there and shot him.”

The family also refuted any allegations that the boy was a part of a gang. “He isn’t no gang banger. He is not a troublesome person.”

The boy is believed to have sustained multiple gunshots to the body.

Forbes enjoyed playing video games and was his father’s only child.

He was the country’s latest murder victim, driving the total to 26 for the year, which is startling since the year just opened.

Disturbed by the surge in crime, the Bahamas Christian Council hosted a national day of prayer in January. The surge also prompted the government to amend the bail act which would revoke bail for repeat offenders. However, the Opposition believes it doesn’t do enough to reduce crime.