BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ON May 2, Shakeem Walters, popularly known as ‘Hotness’ celebrated his 17th birthday from his hospital bed with few friends and close family members.
It is not the sort of celebration a regular teenager would want, especially one such as Walters who enjoyed the night life and entertainment. But it was imperative that he spend his birthday on a hospital bed because of a dreadful incident that nearly cost him his life.
According to reports, shortly after midnight on Friday, January 20, 2012, the then 16-year-old was found lying on Park Street in the vicinity of National Housing Corporation (NHC) in a pool of blood with gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
When SKNVibes visited the crime scene, one of the officers said that “no stone will be left unturned in this shooting incident”.
This media house was later informed that one of the two bullets had damaged Walters’ spine and left him “paralysed from the waist down”.
Sources also said that his eyes were swollen shut and that he was blind.
And that was the state he was in when SKNVibes visited him last week. His eyes were closed and he was unable to move his legs.
Walters appeared to be sad but he still managed to smile when talks of his birthday was brought to the fore.
“I would have been celebrating my birthday by going to the shows and so,” he said.
His mother, Shermel Walters, strongly believes there is hope for him in walking again once he makes the effort.
“To me, there is something that can be done for him because it seems like he is starting to get feelings in his legs,” she said.
Walters said that he is starting to feel a slight stinging sensation in his legs.
He is also currently undergoing therapy.
In terms of his condition, he is also ready to be discharge but his mother said her home is no longer suitable for him because of the long stairway.
So she therefore hopes to acquire a new home with no stairs that would accommodate her son, because he would have to be in a wheelchair.
The once jolly teenager, who became very popular in St. Kitts because of his manner of dress and hairstyles, is now bed stricken.
It is a situation that makes him cry each time he thinks about what caused him to be in this physical and mental state.
Walters believes he was shot because of the lifestyle he chose, but quickly noted that dressing that way was being himself.
“I don’t think I deserved what happened to me, but now I know God wants me closer to him,” he added.
For now, he is hoping something could be done for him to regain his sight because he wants to see his family and friends as well as “St. Kitts”.
“A doctor told me that I could get help in Cuba,” he said.
Whether Walters goes to Cuba or any other country, he is in dire need of financial assistance, and anyone who is willing to contribute whatever they can to help with his medical bills and other expenses is welcome.
“If people are willing to give, we will be willing to accept. This is something towards my son,” the mother said.
Walters has aspirations of becoming a hairdresser some day. But, for now, he cannot wait to indulge in some of his past favorites such as Neville’s famous pasta dishes.
Speaking with his mother, SKNVibes learnt that there may have been an attempted attack on his life at the hospital on the day after his first preliminary inquiring hearing. This resulted in him now being guarded while at the medical institution.
On the same day that Walters was shot, police formally arrested 21-year-old Nyon Dasent of Wellington Road, Basseterre and two days after charged him with the attempted murder of the teenager.
Persons who are willing to make donations to aid Walters with intended expenses to be incurred can do so by contacting his uncle, Rudolph Walters, at 664-5307. The family will also be soon opening a bank account for him where donations can be made.
