"The duration of one's existence is less significant than the depth of their influence."

These were the words used by Candis James Marshall in the eulogy of Gonzales murder victim Jayden Reyes as hundreds of people including family, friends and well-wishers gathered at the St Martin De Porres RC Church, Lange Street, Gonzales on Monday at Reyes' funeral.

Reyes' life was ended in a hail of bullets as he was shot multiple times outside the Accident and Emergency Department of the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) on Sunday June 2.

He was brought to hospital after being shot in the foot by gunmen who opened fire minutes earlier in Gonzales, Belmont. One man died in Gonzales as a result of the shooting.

As Reyes and other shooting victims were brought to the PoSGH, the same gunmen also arrived and opened fire. In total, four men were killed – one at Gonzales, Reyes at the PoSGH, and two others were pronounced dead on arrival.

The victims were identified as Reyes, Peter Williams, 31, Kevin "Grimes" King, 33 and Johnathon "Johnny/Jman" Arjoon, 23.

Reyes' brother Jassani was also shot – once in the face and twice about the body – at the PoSGH as he and others were assisting in taking out the wounded men from a vehicle. Jassani, his face heavily bandaged, was at his brother's funeral.

Marshall said Reyes, 21, a third-year medical student wanted to become a paediatric surgeon, and was passionate about football from a young age. He was a part of his alma mater, St Mary's College's intercol team, and also the UWI men's football team.

A GEM FROM GONZALES

"In March, Reyes took his passion to new heights and helped organise a youth football tournament in the Gonzales community, which was very successful.

"He understood the importance of assisting others and giving back to his community as he volunteered at the St Dominic's home in Belmont, Gonzales homework centre, the Red Cross and the paediatrics ward of the Mt Hope Children's Hospital.

"Sadly the community that Jayden gave back to is the community in which he lost his life and that is a sad reality," Marshall said.

[caption id="attachment_1089203" align="alignnone" width="558"] Jassani Reyes who was shot and injured during the June 2 mass shooting in Gonzales and the Port of Spain General Hospital leaving his brother's funeral on June 10 at the St Martin De Porres RC Church, Lange Street, Gonzales - Enrique Rupert[/caption]

She described Reyes as industrious, as he began working as a customer service representative on weekends and in his spare time while still in secondary school.

She said that in 2019, Reyes interned at Guardian Life and then moved on to work at a catering company. "He never turned down an offer for an honest day's pay."

She said only a few weeks ago, he was interviewed and offered a full-time position at Guardian Life, but turned it down as he had to return to Jamaica to continue his medical studies. "He was never involved in any illicit activities.

"Jayden was a product of his home environment as he was nurtured and l