The stepfather of a young professional footballer who was shot and killed during a botched robbery attempt on the Eastern Main Road (EMR), D'Abadie, early on Friday morning, says his stepson was a loving and kind soul who did not deserve to die the way he did.
The deceased has been identified as 19-year-old Jayden Moore from Redhill, D'Abadie.
Police said around 1.40 am on September 20, Moore and a woman were sitting in a gold Nissan Tiida Hatchback on the EMR, Redhill, D'Abadie, when a man came to the driver's side of the Tiida, pointed a gun at Moore and announced a robbery.
Moore drove off and the man shot multiple times at the car.
Moore was hit and lost consciousness, causing the Tiida to crash on the EMR. The woman then called the police.
Police said around 2 am, they received the information and went to the scene, where they saw the car with the driver's door open.
There, they found the woman trying to help Moore, who was in the driver's seat.
Police took Moore out of the car and saw multiple gunshot wounds to his body.
They took Moore to the Arima Health Facility, where he died around 2.10 am. Moore was shot once in the chest and four times in the back.
The scene was processed by the Special Evidence Recovery Unit.
Newsday contacted Moore's stepfather Brian Bain by phone on September 20.
He described his stepson as joyful, playful, respectable and lovingly annoying.
Moore was a professional footballer and last played with Morvant Caledonia AIA, playing in the TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) tier one during the 2023/24 season.
Bain recalled Moore starting the sport at the age of nine.
"He first played with Pinto United Sports Club and then he moved to Police FC youth teams.
"He stayed with Police FC from age 11 all the way to the last football season in 2023 before moving to Caledonia (AIA). He only had a couple months with Caledonia."
Bain said Moore was into athletics but switched to football as "every youthman was playing football."
He said his stepson adopted the nickname "Mr Smooth" when he played at Arima North Secondary School.
"When he played at his best, his style of play came across as calm, relaxed, no pressure, just smooth. It came across as if he was dancing."
Bain recalled Moore speaking on the nickname.
"One time he actually said to me, 'When I'm dribbling (the ball), I feel like if I hearing music and I does just go with the flow.'"
Newsday asked Bain his thoughts on the crime situation that has been plaguing the country. He described it as a "pandemic."
Bain said the lack of serious consequences for crime is one reason the situation is out of hand.
"It is a free-for-all, do as you please.
"You'll get bail, you'll come out, they'll catch you, they won't catch you. It is just crazy right now."
He said the people who have the authority to curb crime are protected.
"They are not bothered by it so...it leaves you to believe certain people are benefitting from crime."
When Newsday called Bain, he was at home. He said the reality of Moore's
