Former national football coach Edgar Vidale cancelled a trip to the United States to stay at home for the holidays and remember his wife, who lost a battle with cancer four months ago.
His plans changed at the weekend, when he received news that his daughter, Gabrielle Vidale-Kinard, was shot dead at her home in North Carolina during an attack.
Her 18-year-old son, Angelo Kinard, died while being treated for a gunshot wound to the head at hospital yesterday.
Her 13-year-old daughter, Gabriella, was grazed with a bullet, as she tried to escape with her five-month-old baby sister, Rebecca.
Vidale's second child, Dierdre, died five years ago. His son, Gerald, the only surviving child, also lives in North Carolina. He was looking after little Rebecca last night.
Vidale-Kinard's second husband, Scott Davis Jr, has been charged with the double murder.
Vidale sat in a rocking chair at his home in Santa Flora yesterday, trying to understand what happened.
"I did not know she was having problems with her marriage. I spoke to her regularly, but she never told me. I only found out after this incident," he said.
Vidale, 72, who is the current technical director of the Petrotrin football team, said another grandson, who was staying with 38-year-old Vidale-Kinard, ran out of the house when the shots rang out.
"Darnell, my grandson, was staying with them since his mother died to continue his studies.
"He told me that the couple were always fighting. And on Saturday my daughter insisted that her husband leave her home. He did leave, but returned hours later with a gun," Vidale said.
"A shot was fired and the children ran out of their bedrooms. Angelo went to his mother's aid, but he was shot once in the head. My daughter was then shot three times.
"And as Gabriella was trying to run out with the baby, the gunman shot at them, but she was lucky the bullet grazed her cheeks."
The two older children were from a previous marriage, but Davis was the father of baby Rebecca, he said.
The survivors were taken to their uncle's home.
The shooting happened around midnight at Thornwood Road in the Hidden Valley neighbourhood in North Charlotte, North Carolina. Vidale-Kinard migrated to the United States more than 20 years ago.
Vidale said, "My son went there on a football scholarship and he sent for his two sisters. My wife and I would visit for the holidays and they wanted me to come there again this year. I would have been there all this time, but I wanted to be at home this year," he said.
Tomorrow Vidale leaves for North Carolina, where he will make funeral arrangements.
He will also attend a march hosted by the Domestic Violence Advocacy Council, where his daughter will be honoured. "I was asked to represent my family and as long as I get there on time I would be attending the march," he said.
Vidale said although his daughter and Davis were involved for more than two years, he had met him only once. "I had a feeling about him. I did not really like him for my daughter, but I had to accept him," he said.