(Trinidad Guardian) – For several hours on Good Friday, police and soldiers combed through the streets of San Fernando, raiding apartment buildings and checking all medical institutions to find three men whom they believe murdered a soldier.
Junior Chase, 35, of Pepper Village, Fyzabad, a soldier with the T&T Defence Force, was shot dead around 4.30 am, in front of his common-law wife Crystal. The murder occurred outside the Arabian Trini Pot at Cipero Street, San Fernando where the couple had gone to buy gyros.
Chase died on the spot, having been shot twice to the head and once to the back. His colleagues and relatives are hailing Chase as a hero, saying he sacrificed himself to save Crystal.
Investigators said one of the men linked to the shooting was known to Crystal. It is believed that she and the man got into an argument and Chase went to defuse the situation.
A source said the man called some of his friends who pulled up in a car at Cipero Street and began firing on Chase and Crystal.
The soldier drew his licensed firearm and returned fire, hitting one of them. As he fell to the ground dead, the attackers stole his firearm and escaped.
Soldiers and police officers arrived a short while later and began locking off the city streets in a bid to capture the men.
Hospital officials were advised to be on the lookout for the injured suspect.
Speaking to Guardian Media at the scene, his father Leroy Chase said he was confident that justice will be served.
“I believe in God and everything in God’s hands. They can run but they cannot hide. God’s eyes are on them now. It’s only a matter of time that justice will be served,” Leroy said.
Describing his son as a “people’s person,” Leroy said he was at home when he got a call from Crystal who was screaming and crying.
“She say my son just got shot and he dead. I asked her where they were and she say Cipero Street. They came out to buy gyro. She was with him, they were not in the car, they were outside and there was a confrontation between her and someone else. My son stepped in and said ‘all you behave, cool that. An argument broke out and the man’s friends came out and started to shoot at my son,” Leroy added.
He said two weeks ago, another person issued death threats to Chase.
“It hurts a lot to see him die like this knowing you bring up a child the proper way. He lives with me and I always tell him to be a good soldier and whatever you’re doing give your best,” Leroy said.
He said his other son who lives in the United States was alerted and has started making arrangements to return to Trinidad.
An autopsy will be done on the body next week pending a COVID-19 test.
Anyone with information on the murder can contact Crime-Stoppers at 800-TIPS.
