Four suspects held in connection with the shooting death of nine year old Jamal Modeste in Enterprise over the weekend have claimed they were beaten by police while in custody.

The men, who are separately being held at the Caroni, Couva, Cunupia and Freeport police stations, are being represented by the CJ Williams law office.

In a pre-action protocol letter, their attorney noted that the men have been held for roughly 33 hours without any charges being laid. 

According to police reports around 8.20 pm on Saturday, several shots were fired from a white panel van in the vicinity of the basketball court at the African Grounds, Enterprise.

Jamal was struck by the gunfire and was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility by relatives to seek medical attention, however, the child succumbed to his injuries.

The white panel van was reportedly stolen at gunpoint earlier that day from a bakery driver doing deliveries.

Acting Commissioner Erla Christopher has pledged that officers will look at all avenues in investigating the crime, asking the public to offer any information which may be helpful in solving the matter. 

“Anyone who has information that could assist, please come forward, help us, so justice can be served, to give some semblance of closure and relief to a grieving family,” Christopher said.