By Anesta Henry
Cultural Ambassador The Most Honourable Anthony Mighty Gabby Carter was in the process of penning a song Mass Murder in America last Saturday afternoon when he received the tragic news that his 20-year-old grandson Daryus Clarke was fatally shot in Queens, New York.
A heartbroken Gabby told Barbados TODAY that he was finishing up the last verse of the song, when his phone rang and the distraught voice of one of his children delivered the gut-wrenching news that the quiet, humble, respectful young man was the victim of a senseless killing.
“It was around 3 p.m. when my daughter called me. That song was like a premonition. Up to now I can’t understand why of all the subjects, this guy came to me and he had no song and he told me he wanted a song about violence. So I say, I am going to call this song ‘Mass Murder In America’, not knowing that my grandson was actually being murdered.”
Acknowledging that Monday morning was the first time he freely shed tears since he received the tragic news, a hurting Gabby explained that he was heartbroken and struggling to come to grips with the loss of his grandchild whose life was taken by robbers who reportedly got away with US$150 in money and items.
“The first time I cried was this morning when I saw his picture in one of the New York newspapers. That thing hit me so hard. I was not expecting it to hit me that hard, but I am human and It just struck me hard man.
“He was such a very quiet fella. If you see his picture, it tells you a lot about him, he was very quiet. Everybody likes to talk about their family and their children and grandchildren in very glowing terms but I can speak about him in that manner because he has never gotten into any trouble with anybody at any time. He was a quiet, cool fella,” Carter said.
He continued: “When he came here to visit me he was 14 years old and I had not seen him in six years but I had spoken to him. And I said to his mom. ‘I want some tea’ and she said ‘Dad I’m coming now’.
“I went and showered and when I came out that boy had the tea there on the table waiting for me and he said ‘granddad I heard you say you wanted some tea so I went and got it for you’. I said thank you and all he did was smile. He was not this aggressive person who was always quarrelling and cursing and getting into trouble and he didn’t used to talk much.”
According to media reports, Clarke, who was employed at “The Plug”, a smoke shop at 109-27 Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, was killed while on the job. ABC Eyewitness News reported that the shooting happened right next to a sneaker store, “Sample New York”, and a doctor’s office.
One eyewitness told ABC that he rushed into the smoke shop after hearing the shots to see Clarke on the ground and in bad shape. The eyewitness also said that smoke shops in the area have been targeted.
Police said the shooting was a robbery and that they are looking for three suspects, all wearing dark-coloured hoodies. According to the police the thieves stole $100 and $50 worth of smoking products.
Gabby said since the death, he has been keeping in close contact with his daughter Kiesha Clarke who has been trying to remain strong as she mourns the loss of the first of her four children.
The renowned calypsonian said the mother related to him what she heard about the circumstances surrounding her son’s death.
“He went to work for like two hours before the incident and these guys came to rob the place. So they asked them to lay down on the ground, according to what she told me and then they chose him to get up and open where the money was. I don’t know if he took too long, I don’t know what. He gave them the money which was $100 in cash money, but I guess before he got to lay back down, they shot him twice in his chest.
“Then the paramedics got there, the police, and they were trying to revive him but by the time they got to the hospital he had passed away,” Gabby said.
He disclosed that this is the third family member his daughter Kiesha has lost to gun violence. Her mother Sandra Ann Burrowes was shot and killed while vacationing in Barbados in 2020. Her cousin Shane Harvey of Palm View Avenue, Bayville, St Michael passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital last Monday night while receiving medical treatment for a gunshot injury he sustained in an incident that occured around 8:58 p.m. at a shop he owned near Luke’s Avenue, Bayville, St Michael.
“And now her son was shot and killed. It is like one, two, three. I know it is hard on her. I just called her and she said ‘daddy I am feeling okay’. But I know from her voice she doesn’t want to break down in my earshot. Her daughter’s birthday is on Friday and I spoke to her and she said ‘that ain’t much of a birthday now granddad. I was hoping that I could spend my birthday with my brother’. This is hard for everyone.”
The eight-time calypso king who is currently preparing for his 75 Not Out Gabby in Concert scheduled for the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill on April 29th, said now he must turn his attention to saying his final farewell to his grandchild.
But he has extended gratitude to those persons from all walks of life who have reached out to his family as they grieve.
“I am getting so many calls from all of my friends, family. I had over 200 calls in the last two days,” he said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb
