(TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) Screams and cries resonated from the hills of Laventille on Thursday night, after police shot and killed five men who opened fire on them.
The incident is expected to trigger a blood war between officers and criminal gangs in the hotspot community and police are already taking precautions to safeguard their lives.
Two of the men killed were identified as Meshack “Crash” Douglas and Kadeem Williams, while another was identified only as Shaquille.
The killings took place around 10.21 pm at Trou Macaque, Laventille.
Officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force Strike Team were on patrol in thre community when the men allegedly opened fire on them from a vehicle, hitting one of the police officer’s in the chest. His bulletproof vest saved him.
His colleagues returned fire at the men, killing them. Four died on the scene while a fifth was sent to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
As the bodies were being removed last night, women were heard bawling. The deceased were said to be part of a gang responsible for robberies and shootings in the Laventille and Morvant areas. Police recovered two firearms at the scene of the crime.
The T&T Guardian will bring you more as this situation unfolds.
