Survivor of triple murder fears for his life

Relatives of murdered father and son Marlon and Malik Lee yesterday criticized people on social media for their irresponsible reporting on the triple murder in Petit Valley. The identity of the surviving son was widely reported on various sites Monday night after the murders.

Marlon, 41; Malik, 17; and Marlon’s legal wife Salina Rodriguez, 34; were shot at 9:36 p.m. at their home at Sita Trace, Upper Pioneer Drive, Petit Valley.

It was initially claimed that Marlon’s 16-year-old son was the intended target, but that he was not home because he had an extracurricular activity after school and did not return home that evening.

Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday seeking clarification on the misinformation circulating, Lee’s relatives denied the fearful teenager had gone into hiding, saying it was Malik the gunmen had targeted.

A female relative, who did not want to be named, said: “He doesn’t live there anymore because he does extracurricular activities and the person who takes care of him takes him back and forth. He has never hidden.”

She added: “The cousin who died is the one who had a connection, I don’t know to what extent, but he had a connection to the boy who was beaten up and stripped naked on social media.”

As she was being questioned, the grieving woman kept her eyes open for vehicles that slowed down in front of their house, saying they had warned Malik about his relationship with the boy in question.

“We always told him to stay away from that boy because we heard he was causing problems. He didn’t listen to us several times,” she said.

Referring to an alleged online video in which Malik and his friend allegedly threatened a neighborhood gang leader and revealed who had illegal weapons, the relative asked, “What video?”

She said the family has not yet been shown the alleged video that is believed to have led to the mass shooting.

“We haven’t seen any video. The day the boy got beat up was the day they were both supposed to get beat up, but Malik wasn’t there, so it was just the little boy who got beat up, so whatever he said to the guy who beat him up, I don’t know… whatever he said to them, they run away with it.”

The woman gave a chronological account of how events unfolded two days before the murders: “As far as I know, they approached my uncle and said, ‘Yeah, we didn’t get your son… we’ve got to get him.'”

She speculated: “I don’t know if that’s why, but probably because my uncle didn’t bring him to them. They say we’re coming for you.”

She said they were also told that Monday’s killings were a botched interrogation. She said Malik’s boyfriend was beaten on Saturday, after which the suspects went to Marlon’s house looking for Malik who was not home at the time. It was alleged that after this visit Marlon decided to send Malik away from home during the day, but family members could not confirm this.

She criticised the police for their indifference to the family in the hours after the murders, saying Marlon’s son was now “afraid for his life”.

She said the family had previously lost relatives to gun violence and the latest incident had left the survivor afraid to return to school and the community because his face and identity were now known.

She said it was sad, depressing and disheartening to read the comments from the public, which were unkind and insensitive to the emotional pain the family was suffering.

She challenged her opponents to turn the tables.

“If you were in the same situation, you would never want something like that said to you or your family members.”

She added: “It’s about common courtesy, that’s what life is about. It’s a gift that you don’t just throw away.”

She confirmed that the extended family was also scared now, because they were not sure if the killers would return. She said: “Yes, because the next moment one of them thinks he is here and comes back to make a tactic, as the people and they say in the comments.”

Asked if Malik had any links to criminal gangs, she said: “No. No. The only person was the boy who was beaten up. If you go to anyone, they will tell you that he was a very helpful person. He always wanted to stand up for what was right and sometimes we would say to him: Malik, pick your battles, because you know how people are.”

On the verge of tears, she concluded: “The family will now always have to look over their shoulder.”

An elderly woman from the community told Guardian Media they were in mourning, describing the victims as “good people.”

Asked if they were concerned the killings could lead to an escalation of further gun violence in the quiet area, she said: “No. This is an isolated incident.”

But, she added, “While we are concerned, we are not afraid that they will come here to attack others.”

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