Sacha Walters, Staff Reporter

Sharon Gapoor, mother of Carlton Grant Jr, in reflective mood on Hanover Street, Kingston, yesterday. Grant Jr was controversially killed by police on August 23. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Like any mother who has lost a child, Sharon Gapoor prefers to remember the essence of her son.

Carlton Grant Jr, son of Gapoor and performing artiste Spragga Benz, was controversially shot on August 23, along Church Street in Kingston.

According to reports from the Constabulary Communications Network (CCN), a police squad was on patrol along Church Street in central Kingston when they signalled two men on a bicycle to stop; they obeyed.

One of the men allegedly pulled a gun and fired at the police who returned fire. After the incident, Grant was found shot and a gun was allegedly found on him. He later died in hospital.

An autopsy will be done on Thursday, with his funeral scheduled for Saturday at our Lady of the Angels Church .

Yesterday, Sharon Gapoor remembered Carlisle, as he was called, as bright and generous.

The 38-year-old recalled several years ago when he asked his father for money to buy juice. He was given a $100 bill. Later when his older brother said he too wanted a drink, the youngster was more than willing to share.

"Him tear the $100 in two and give him brother half an' him tek the other half," his mother said.

That, the past student of Oberlin High added, pointed to the heart of her son: a kind, fun-loving teenager who idolised his father and who, more than anything, wanted to be an actor.

Idolised his father

"Him idolise him father. Him dress like him father but him did really really waan act," she said.

Carlton junior played a young Wayne, Spragga Benz's character, in the 2006 movie Shottas.

She said he accompanied Spragga Benz on stage when the deejay toured China recently.

Spragga Benz, whom he lived with, insisted that education would be utmost in his son's life. After he completed sixth form at Camperdown High School, he said he could explore his acting dreams further.

"We were extremely close. We talk about everything. Him wasn't limited when it come on to reasoning," Spragga Benz said.

Carlton Grant Jr's life was filled with possibilities. He passed six of his seven subjects in the Caribbean Examinations Council, among them Information Technology, history and mathematics. He had also completed the application form to enter Camperdown's sixth form programme.

Celebratory meal

"We were excited," Gapoor said of the examination results. A celebratory meal was planned once his father returned from overseas dates.

"Even when him fadda tell him seh him get a part (in a movie) with (American actress) Queen Latifah he was so excited," she said.

"He wanted to write and produce movies too," Spragga said he was not limited.

Three days later, Carlton was dead. His family has protested the shooting, saying Carlton was not involved in wrongdoing.

The policemen involved are still on duty.