"NAH, NAH, NAH! I not taking that one! We have to get justice for that," cried the young actor, as he dramatized the shock and anger he and other students of St. Augustine Secondary School felt upon hearing the news and circumstances of fellow SASS student Commie Torres' death.

It's an anger that should be felt by any compassionate person who values justice.

Commie was shot on Carnival Monday night in downtown Arima when police officers discharged their firearms in an attempt quell a crowd disturbance.

He was a teen who did everything right, everything young people are told to do. He studied hard, he got involved with his culture and his community, and he kept out of trouble. At the same memorial where the dramatization took place, his teachers held him up as an example for other students to follow.

Yet he lost his very young life in one of the worst ways possible, shot as though he were no better than a violent criminal.

How could this have happened? And how can our young people continue to have faith in the institution that may have caused this outcome?

For these vital questions to be answered, Commie Torres' death must not only be thoroughly investigated and guilty parties prosecuted, but the approach to law enforcement that led to the shooting of an innocent bystander must be examined and steps taken to ensure that such a horrific tragedy never happens again.

Police officials must be transparent and open in their handling of this case. It is disturbing that the only official statements on the issue have come mainly because of the diligence of the press.

The Commissioner of Police and the Minister of National Security should be just as horrified as we are that this young man died in this way, and they should be eager to reassure the public that they are doing everything in their power to find out why it happened. So far, we don't feel reassured that this is what they're doing.

Commie Torres' case is only the latest - albeit one of the worst - in a stream of allegations of police excess that have poured from the mouths of mainly poor young men. There is little evidence that the authorities are responding to them. They must. Much is at stake.

At least one survey has found that Trinidad and Tobago teenagers have a high level of distrust for the police. This state of affairs can have dire consequences.

If the police authorities genuinely want to assure young people that the law is on their side, if they really want to recruit youths' help in reducing crime, and if they seriously want to lure the tempted away from crime, they must also want justice for Commie Torres.

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