(Trinidad Guardian) Mayhem and chaos erupted in the carpark of the Courts Megastore in San Juan as gunshots rang out sending Christmas shoppers and staff inside the store to scamper for cover. In the end, two siblings lay dead and two others were on the ground nursing gunshot injuries. The shooter was an off-duty police officer.
What prompted the deadly shooting is now the subject of three investigations by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Police Complaints Authority and the TTPS Professional Standards Bureau.
Yesterday as news of the incident broke, the T&T Police Service (TTPS) claimed the shooting in the car park of the Courts Megastore was the result of an attempted robbery of an off-duty police officer but relatives of the two siblings killed at the scene strongly denied this.
Hours after the incident, which also sent three others, including the off-duty police officer to the hospital, Unicomer (Trinidad) Ltd distanced itself from the furore which it claimed had resulted from a “private financial transaction” that had been taking place on its compound.
According to police, the mayhem unfolded sometime between 12.30 pm and 1 pm in the carpark of the Megastore.
As shoppers inside sought cover, motorists slowed down to record what was taking place on the compound.
When the gunfire ceased, siblings Simeon, 33, and Siniaya Lessey, 35, lay dead and Simeon’s wife Kerrey-Ann Moore and family friend Nathan Pierre, were left nursing injuries.
Moore and Pierre both underwent emergency surgery at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope yesterday.
Numb and holding back her tears when Guardian Media visited her house at Trou Macaque, Laventille yesterday, mother of the deceased siblings, Abigail John said the incident stemmed from an alleged scam her daughter Siniaya fell victim to.
Simeon, who was the father of an eight-year-old girl, worked as a private contractor; while Siniaya, who was the mother of a three-year-old boy, had been employed with the House of Angostura, Laventille.
She was presented with a ten-year long-service award last week.
Guardian Media learned it was only last week that Siniaya reportedly handed over $11,000 in cash to a police officer to facilitate the purchase of furniture and appliances from Courts, at hugely discounted prices.
“You have a big page up on Facebook Marketplace stating that I am working at Courts, and if you want things by Courts, you can get it at half price.”
John said, “She went, she met with him, she pick out some stuff and last week she went and gave him $11,000 for all that she had to get.”
“Since that, he (had) been running she around.”
Claiming Siniaya would have lodged a report on December 9 at the Barataria Police Station, John said the officer continued to refuse her daughter’s calls and had blocked her number.
The grieving mother said it was only yesterday that Siniaya asked her sister-in-law to message the officer and pretend to be interested in purchasing some items. John said when the four arrived at Courts after being told to come there, “He (the officer) was sitting in the van. He and the others who were with him. It wasn’t him alone.”
John said when Siniaya, Simeon and the two others confronted the policeman demanding her money be returned, the situation turned violent and deadly.
She urged businesses to carefully screen people they hired to work for them.
John cried, “It is two children I lose. How, I going to stand up now?”
Expressing hurt and anger after the police officers who were present at the scene, refused to speak with her, John said, “Not an officer came and spoke to me.”
“I see my two children lying down like dog and not an officer could come and tell me nothing?”
Up to 6 pm yesterday, no one from the TTPS had visited the family’s home at Dawn Street.
Guardian Media was told that several people have allegedly come forward claiming to have seen a police officer dropping off Siniaya last week, after she handed over the money.
John said she was aghast to see reports on social media emerging hours after the incident, from other people who had allegedly fallen victim to the same scam.
John said while she is grief-stricken and still reeling in shock, she would leave the matter in God’s hands as she is sure justice will prevail.
Indicating she too could have been caught up after Siniaya told her of the good deals, John said she declined as she was not yet ready.
John said her daughter worked hard for her money and to provide for her child who is now left without a mother. “This is the end result of you taking her money?” John questioned.
The emotional woman said her Christmas was cancelled with the deaths of her two children, whose funerals she now had to plan.
Courts: Safety of utmost importance
Unicomer (Trinidad) Ltd issued a release about the incident yesterday.
It said, “Based on preliminary information received from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the off-duty police officer was engaged in a private financial transaction at the Courts Megastore carpark.
“The transaction between the officer and the five individuals facilitating the ‘transaction’, escalated into a physical altercation. The individuals were unaware that the off-duty police officer was armed.”
The establishment said immediately following the incident, the authorities and emergency services were contacted, and the Courts Megastore location was closed.
“All staff were directed to contact our Employee Assistance Programme to facilitate counselling services, following the traumatic occurrence,” it said.
Unicomer (Trinidad) Ltd sought to reassure the public that security and safety were a high priority for staff and customers.
As such, it reinforced, “We would like to reiterate that our car park serves as a space for our customers to park their vehicles while visiting our stores. They should not be used for any private financial/ business transactions.
“Our customers’ safety and the safety of our staff is of utmost importance to us. This incident, while isolated in nature, will be taken seriously by our security team. All efforts would be made to ensure that the shopping experience for all during the festive season remains as safe as possible.”
In the meantime, the public has been urged to report any information that can assist in the investigation to the office of the Snr Supt, North Eastern Division, Mervyn Edwards at 625-3283.
Edwards extended condolences to John and the family as he said the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
ASP Daniel Hernandez has been assigned to lead the investigation. Meanwhile, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) will also conduct a parallel investigation as well as the Professional Standards Bureau which also probes alleged misconduct by police officers.
