(Trinidad Express) A man who was among three persons who stormed the Trou Macaque, Laventille, community early yesterday and opened fire on three men was himself killed during the incident.
This latest killing has pushed the murder figure for the year to 40. Eleven of those killings took place in the Besson Street policing district, with seven of them being committed with the use of illegal firearms.
The murder victims are Lloyd “Vamp” Baptiste; Wayne Welchers, 54; Pream Squires, 45; Kassinath “Tommy” Ramsaran, 31; Ravi Ramsaran, 26; Maurice John Roberts, 27; Dandell Dougal; Josiah Governor, six; Isaiah Phillip, 23; and Clinton Bussette, 33.
Police have only been able to arrest and charge persons in connection with the killings of Governor, Squires and the two Ramsaran brothers.
Officers believe the deceased, who up to late yesterday was not positively identified, was shot and killed by one of his accomplices when he attempted to close in on three men they were pursuing.
The incident occurred in the vicinity of #7 Trou Macaque Road, Laventille, around 6.30 a.m., police said.
Two brothers, identified by police as David, 29, and Atiba Grant, 32, of the same address where the incident occurred, remained warded in critical condition up to late yesterday at the Port of Spain General Hospital. They were shot about their bodies while fleeing three gunmen.
Police said around 6.30 a.m. yesterday, Atiba and David were in company with a 36-year-old man outside their home when a silver Nissan AD Wagon motorcar pulled up alongside them.
Three men, armed with guns, alighted from the vehicle and the victims began to run in separate directions. They were pursued by the suspects who opened fire on them.
Police said the dead suspect was believed to have been accidentally shot about the body by his accomplices.
The man, who is believed to be 25 years old, slumped to the ground and died at the scene while residents took the injured brothers to the Port of Spain General Hospital where they were treated for gunshot injuries about their bodies and remain warded.
Police believe the gun the dead man had in his possession was taken by a resident before officers responded to the incident. They are also working on the theory that the victim may be from Diego Martin.
Officers recovered a cellphone from his pockets and were hoping to obtain a positive identification by late last evening.
Acting Insp Williams, Sgt Andrew Lawrence, Cpls Hinkson and Gary Harvey, including PCs Abraham and Jeremie, were among the officers who visited the scene.