Erwin Anthony Staine, 22, a resident of Racoon Street, was gunned down last night around 10:30 p.m. Reports to us are that Staine was socializing with a friend on North Creek Road when two men, believed to have been friends of Staine, stopped and joined the conversation with him prior to shooting him three times in the lower abdomen.
Amandala spoke with Staine’s sister, Melonie Staine, who told us that she last spoke to Staine yesterday evening around 2:30, and that he was happy. Staine never complained about anyone threatening his life or anything of the sort that would console this already grieving family, who a year ago buried their mother, she said.
The information we gathered indicates that Staine was standing in front of a friend’s home socializing last night around 10:30 p.m., when suddenly, two men on bicycles arrived. The men, we were told by individuals around the neighborhood, did not approach Staine or the other man in a threatening way.
Rather, all four men engaged in a conversation, even laughing, until suddenly, one of the men brought up an ancient “beef.”
It is unclear what the old “beef” was about, but we were informed by residents that they heard about four shots in total; Staine’s friend, a witness told us, ran into the yard seeking shelter.
Staine, by this time, had fallen on the ground. The police responded immediately to the shooting and transported him to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries about ten to fifteen minutes after.
Melonie told us what she learnt about her brother’s homicide: “My sister called me [last night] and told me that my brother was shot, so I just got my two kids and they came over, my next sister and brother were at the hospital with him, and by the time I got over here [the family house], they said he died already.
Melonie told us that the last time she spoke to Staine was yesterday afternoon: “Actually, he was very happy, I was sitting at my sister’s house; he came in and he was joking around with all of us, he picked up my baby [new born] for the first time; he talked to all of us, he didn’t look worried at all.”
The status of the police investigation into this latest homicide is unknown, and all attempts to contact the press officer have been futile.
Melonie told us that what has made her brother’s murder even more unbearable is the fact that this Saturday, June 4, would make an exact year since their mother’s death, and that the family had already made plans to have a commemorating gathering at church.
Melonie said that she will miss her brother’s ability to put a smile on the faces of everyone, especially on trying days: “Well, he always makes us smile, sometimes when you’re not in a good mood you would think that he is doing things to provoke you, but he just wants you to smile.”
This latest murder is number 58 for the year 2011, and the first for the month of June.