TWO WEEKS after her son's father, a reputed gangster, was shot dead, a Belmont woman suffered the same fate yesterday.

But even as word spread in the district that Delene Long's murder was the start of brewing gang-war, police were adamant that she was killed in a botched robbery.

Long, who had a child for Neil "Big Neil" Lewis, was shot in the head as she and other relatives were in the midst of a birthday celebration for her 18-year-old son.

Homicide detectives believe that the persons who killed Long were on a robbery spree and may have also been responsible for last weekend's double murder in the same district.

Keith Barrow, 24, of Morvant and Ria Blackman, 23, of Sea Lots were found with gun shot wounds to their heads. They were discovered in a parked car Monday.

Investigators said that Lewis's killing on March 15 and the March 23 gunning down of Jamaat-al-Muslimeen strongman Mark Guerra were directly related.

They said that Long's relationship with Lewis was coincidental and not related to any reprisal.

Long, a mother of five, was shot at one of her sons' birthday party yesterday evening. Friends and family were celebrating the 18th birthday of her son, O'Neil Lewis.

Her three boys and two girls ranged from ages 14 to 28. Long, 44, was shot at close range in her head.

The Express understands that two unmasked young men first robbed some persons who were liming at the base of the Augustine Street hill.

They then proceeded up the hill. The two men fired one shot up the Gonzales Circular Road, in front of the corner house, and then entered an open door to confront the close to 25 persons gathered.

A witness said that the men shouted:

"This is a robbery!"

He added that during the commotion Long got up and asked one of the robbers:

"How all yuh could come and rob at a party?"

In response, the man shot her in her head.

The men took a gold ring and watch from another of Long's sons and a bottle of rum before they fled the scene and ran up the Gonzales Circular Road.

Long was rushed to the Port of Spain General Hospital and died soon after her arrival.

Belmont Police are investigating.