Tributes Pour In for Slain Photographer

St. Lucia Fire Service Emergency personnel at the Babonneau Fire Station, on Monday November 8, at approximately 10:25 pm responded to a call relating to an alleged shooting incident at Balata.

Responders were led to a residential structure where one male individual was found unresponsive. He was assessed and it was revealed that he sustained several penetrating wounds to his body. With the absence of vital signs, CPR was immediately initiated while his wounds were treated. The patient was provided rapid emergency transportation, during which his condition remained unchanged. He was pronounced dead by a medical practitioner at the OKEU Hospital.

The victim has been identified as young, budding photograher Tervelle Gabriel. Tributes poured in on Tuesday from friends and loved ones on Facebook and other Social Media platforms for someone who seemed cut down in his prime.

One person wrote:

I always thought @fiona758 and I looked like proud parents in that first picture and the fact is, I was proud of you, I am proud of you and I will forever be proud of you and what you have achieved. I remember when you started, how you looked up to me. You loved photography and your talent and growth was manifested through that love. I admit, I could’ve spent more time praising your achievements but I’ve always been the tough love type, and you were always listening, taking the advice and the mild scoldings with no rebuttals and using them to become a better photographer. The student surpassed the master long ago and you deserve every accolade and praise awarded to you during this terrible time. #Skyrat you are an inspiration to us all, sleep in peace my “son”.

Another also wrote:

Waking up this morning and reading this heart wrenching news brought me to this state of disbelief. Scrolling doing my timeline…post after post….hurt me. Tervelle Gabriel is gone. Such talent. Immense potential. I met him as his teacher at St. Mary’s College SLU. He was active in the SMC Talfest Production in 2014 and I enjoyed working with this energetic soul. (You can see this energy in these videos). I was also his Digital Media teacher at SALCC. I admired and respected this young man because he made the best use of the resources he had. He made no excuses and always eager to try something new. He was soft spoken, humble and ALWAYS ACCEPTED CORRECTION. He was my fellow January 29er, we religiously and jokingly told each other happy birthday! He has captured so much beauty through his camera’s lens. He has immortalized himself with his photography. Sighhhhhh. Tervelle, may memories of you live on. I am still in disbelief.

Another:

Everyday that we live is another day that we could die so tell your loved ones how much they mean to you apologise to the people you’ve wronged and enjoy your life with the people you want to create memories with. No one knows the day or the hour that the grim reaper will come knocking at their door. Rest in peace to all the fallen souls especially Tervelle Gabriel who is another Angel added to the list of Saint Lucian guardians. Talented was an understatement he was one of the best that Saint Lucia had to offer and he was a young person with such a bright future. I pray for consolation to all his friends and colleagues that they may be granted strength to cope with this loss. In Jesus name I pray for healing for our nation against gun violence. Too many people are losing their lives especially the youth. God bless our Fair Helen and forgive whatever sins we are paying for. If you haven’t get on your knees and repent.

Police investigations are continuing.