(Trinidad Guardian) Investigators believe revenge was the motive for the murders of Keith “Pam Pam” Roberts and Allan Azard Ali who were gunned down in Point Fortin on Monday night in an attack that left their friend, Anthony Junior “Mario” Bermudez, critically wounded.
Warden Road residents said there was a power outage before the murders, so everyone was inside their homes and only heard the gunshots and later saw or heard about the men’s deaths.
Residents said the men were involved in a fight weeks ago and they believe a relative of the man who was beaten responded by either killing the men or ordering their deaths.
Reports are that Roberts and Bermudez called Ali to pick them up to have a drink as it was Ali’s birthday on Monday. Although relatives warned Ali not to go out he went anyway.
Police said Ali, 32, an Amalgamated Security Services estate constable, of E Street Extension, was driving his grey Ford Laser along Warden Road around 9.15 pm. Roberts, 44, a labourer, of Spring Trace, was in the front passenger seat and Bermudez, 42, a labourer, of Warden Road, was seated in the back.
Ali stopped the car at the entrance of Spring Trace for Roberts to buy marijuana. A gunman dressed in a black hoodie approached as Roberts walked back to the car, firing several shots and hitting all three men.
Point Fortin police responded to a report of the shooting and found Robert lying motionless at the side of the car and Ali slumped in the driver’s seat with gunshot wounds. They also saw Bermudez on the roadside and attempted to interview him but without success. Municipal police officers took Bermudez to the Point Fortin Hospital.
District Medical Officer Dr Vasant Basdeo examined the bodies and ordered their removal to the mortuary of the San Fernando General Hospital pending transfer to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, for autopsies.
Crime scene investigators retrieved 27 9mm bullet casings, one bullet, one fragment and a black Samsung mobile phone at the scene. Investigators took custody of the vehicle and will send it to the Special Evidence Recovery Unit, Cumuto, for processing.
Ali’s brother Yasseem said he did not know what happened but was sure of his brother’s innocence.
“I know him. That is my brother and he does not be on any stupidness,” he said.
Yasseem said Ali also worked as a taxi driver and he believes the men hired him for a job. Ali’s wife, Ria, is expecting their sixth child in November.
“He had five little children to see about when the day comes. Who will see about them? Who will help them? What is going on now? He was the youngest,” he said.
“When they are coming to kill now, it is everybody going. That is how they are doing it now. They are not saving anybody again. It is nobody they are saving. For instance, look at the nine of them they killed up in Arima, and they killed little children and them. They are not coming for anybody again just so. It is everybody they are coming for now.”
Bermudez suffered three gunshot wounds to the back and one to the right lower abdomen. Relatives said he underwent surgery at hospital as a bullet damaged his kidney.
No one was home at Robert’s house.
