MONIQUE Hamilton was overwhelmed with grief and anger as she gazed at the body of her nine-year-old son Jomol.

He lay in a pristine white casket, with a gold paper crown on his head, at her family's home in Waterloo on Friday.

Jomol was killed in a drive-by shooting at the Africa Recreation Grounds on October 15.

A police report said at around 8.20 pm on October 15, several shots were fired from a white panel van near the basketball court at the grounds, in Enterprise.

Jomol was struck in the back by a bullet, and was taken to the Chaguanas Health Centre, where he died while being treated.

There were originally plans for a viewing of Jomol's body at Carapichaima RC Primary School, where he was a student, but Newsday understands those plans were scrapped after a relative expressed a wish for no media to be at the school.

Other relatives, who live at Enterprise Street, Chaguanas, said they wanted to view Jomol's body in private, without the media there.

Several people waited outside the home of Jomol's maternal grandmother Rosanne Ramdial-Hamilton for his body to arrive. When it did, around 12.40 pm, several people screamed and started crying. Jomol's casket was placed under a tent outside the house. On top of the casket was a wreath with a silver football with Jomol's name on it, to reflect his love for the game.

Hamilton had to be held up physically by relatives as she wept and screamed: "Jomol! Jomol! Why? Why? Oh, God. Jomol! Jomol!"

On her Facebook page on October 16, Hamilton posted: "Allyuh jus take my heart and soul they I have nothing left in me anymore seeing my son last night trying to wake up is like I died too.

"Why allyuh take him from us, he was jus ah innocent child, a baby, he ain't (do) allyuh nothing. Oh gosh fudgie, my child, get up please baby."

Many who responsed to this post expressed shock, anger and outrage over Jomol's murder.

Ramdial-Hamilton had to appeal for calm several times as people tried to view Jomol's body. "We will have a viewing."

She reminded them that they only had a short time with Jomol before his body was taken to the home of other relatives in Enterprise and later to Londgenville for burial.

Ramdial-Hamilton delivered a brief eulogy of her grandson without any prepared speech, straight from her heart.

"His mother and father are Monique Hamilton and Joel Modeste. He was born right here in my little board house, humble as ever."

"We really loved him. I thought I would have bawled today and they would have had to put me in an ambulance."

Other people praised Ramdial-Hamilton for her composure. She attributed this to her steadfast belief in God.

Looking at Jomol's body, Ramdial-Hamilton said, "We will always love you fudgie."

Students and teachers from Carapichaima RC School were also at the house to pay their last respects.

One of Jomol's teachers, who did not give her name, told mourners, "He always had a smile on his f