Hours after popular soca artiste Blazer Dan was killed, his girlfriend said he was a good man who met his demise because of bad company. Troydon Cruickshank, 31, was shot dead at his home in Enterprise, Chaguanas, yesterday by three masked gunmen dressed in military outfits. At about 10 am, the artiste was reportedly talking to three neighbours in his yard when the gunmen, said to be armed with machine guns, opened fire.

Cruickshank, known for hits Be Mine Tonight and Jumpy, was shot several times and died at the Chaguanas Health Clinic. A neighbour who was also shot was taken to hospital where he remains warded. In a telephone interview, the artistes girlfriend, who asked to be identified as Mrs Cruickshank, said she believed Blazer was killed because of the company he kept. I was in the yard when he get shoot. I just started to scream. He used to lime with a lot of people who did stupidness but he is a good man. He used to help out the boys in the community. His love for his friends have him dead now. He paid for their sins.

The woman, who said she had been in a relationship with the Wrong Timing singer for the past six years, denied claims the artiste, who had several run-ins with the law, was a gang leader. He was real quiet. He never went anywhere. He was a simple man who used to stay home. He only left the house to go to the studio and perform, she said. Im sorry he had to pay for things that his friends did, but justice will be done. We are a spiritual family.

The controversial artiste was charged with the murder of his brother, Dillon Cruickshank who was killed during a domestic dispute in 2006. However, he was freed of all charges ten months later. In January, he was arrested in connection with an attempted robbery in Chagaunas. Cruickshank, who admitted that his vehicle was used in the attempted robbery, was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to that offence.

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