Welder slapped with manslaughter charge for death of teen at Hot & Cold Lake

A 23-year-old welder was on Friday slapped with a manslaughter charge in connection with the death of 15-year-old Aarif Azeez, who died by drowning during an outing at Hot and Cold Lake, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). Shemar Smith, also called ‘Short Man’ of Adventure Essequibo Coast, appeared before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him. As such, a paper committal Act was applied, and he was not allowed to plea to the indictment. The prosecutor objected to bail, but the Magistrate granted bail in the sum of $750,000.
He will make his next court appearance on April 30, 2026.
Azeez, 15, went missing on Easter Monday at about 16: 30 while riding a jet ski at Hot and Cold Lake in Onderneeming Sand Pit/Red Village. Family members said he had left home that morning with a cousin and four friends, planning a recreational outing and expected to return by mid-afternoon.
When he failed to return, a search traced his location to the lake. It was reported that Azeez had been operating a red and white jet ski while a 23-year-old friend rode a blue one. While navigating along the shoreline, the jet ski reportedly began running low on fuel.

Azeez’s friend, approximately 300 feet away at the time, observed him moving in a zigzag pattern before falling headfirst into the water about 50 feet from the eastern shoreline. Attempts to rescue him immediately were unsuccessful.
A search was launched by Azeez’s father, Abzal Azeez, along with relatives and friends, using boats. His body was recovered the next day.
Following the incident, the dead teen’s sister, Malika Azeez, told sections of the media that her brother’s body bore multiple injuries, including a broken foot and head trauma, which she described as “baffling.”
This had left more questions than answers with relatives suggesting that he might have been beaten before tossing overboard. An autopsy performed on the body of Aarif Azeez revealed that he died from drowning compounded by multiple injuries. Meanwhile, following further investigations, it was revealed that Smith would have collided with the teen before his death.