(Trinidad Express) MICHAEL Burnette – the suspected criminal who was shot during a home invasion at a police officer’s house on Saturday night – has died at hospital.
Burnette, 31, aka “Katsy”, of La Romaine, had been hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit of the San Fernando General Hospital after he sustained two gunshot wounds at the crime scene at Union Hall, near San Fernando.
Burnette had 13 pending cases in court and two convictions to his name.
He was convicted in 2015 for the offences of possession of firearm and ammunition.
Pending in court were cases for six offences of robbery with violence, malicious damage, malicious wounding, inflicting bodily harm, possession of marijuana, pavilion breaking and larceny, house breaking and larceny, possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition.
The suspect was hit by two bullets fired by a retired police sargeant seeking to protect his family at their home when Burnett and three men stormed in with weapons on Saturday night.
The officer, who returned to the TTPS as a Special Reserve Police officer, fired at the gang of thieves who had demanded cash, jewelry and electronics from the family.
The bullets caused critical injuries to Burnette.
His was severed by the bullet and he was rendered paralysed from the waist down.
There was also internal injury, with the liver ruptured.
His three accomplices left him at the scene and escaped with the loot in a waiting vehicle.
The victims were robbed of cellphones, jewelry, and a laptop.
Burnette was shot when the police officer was taken to a bedroom to open a metal safe.
When the officer was unable to open it, the suspect headed to the living room for another family member, leaving the officer alone in the bedroom.
The officer was able to grab his personal firearm and fired in the direction of the suspects.
Three of the suspects ran out, leaving the wounded man bleeding on the floor.
Officers from the Southern Division, CID Operations and Southern Division Task Force responded and the injured suspect was taken to the hospital.
Investigators are reviewing closed-circuit camera footage from the area and are searching for the other criminals.
