(Trinidad Express) The soldier wanted in connection with the murder of his estranged wife and mother in law at a house in Shorelands this morning was held by police last night.
Shot dead yesterday were Carlita Schamber, 43 and her mother Carmilita De Leon, 66.
Police said that around 8.35 p.m. the Regiment Warrant Officer who is said to have been driving a blue Ford Ranger along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway earlier Tuesday was chased by police along Demerara Road and the Arima Blanchisseusse Road.
Police said the vehicle was found abandoned and the suspect escaped.
Around 8.35 p.m. last night he was held at Blanchisseusse Road, Arima and taken to the Arima Police Station. Members of the TTPS Air Support Unit and Northern Division Task force proceeded to Blanchisseuse Road where the solder was captured while walking along the road. He was wearing camouflage pants and a green T-shirt police said.
Police said 66-year-old Carmilita De Leon and her daughter, Calida Schamber, 43, a compliance officer at ANSA Motors, were shot dead around 11.15 a.m. when the Regiment warrant officer walked inside, pulled out his licensed firearm and fired.
Senior Supt Winston Maharaj told reporters at the scene that “the assailant came into the property. Loud explosions were heard and on checking by other members of the household, both victims were found lying in a pool of blood, motionless”.
“The police has a significant amount of information at this time as it is related to the suspect and a manhunt is on. We are actively pursuing this investigation…” he said. “We have engaged all of our services inclusive of the Victim Witness and Support Unit to provide support to the family.”
Relatives assembled outside the home yesterday and consoled one another, but did not speak to reporters.
United National Congress senators Anil Roberts and David Nakhid also visited the scene of the killings yesterday.
Roberts said: “Unfortunately this is domestic violence once again. Calida was in a relationship with the gentleman who is on the run and there were restraining orders, multiple reports against him, threats were being made but this morning he came here. He walked in with a firearm. He was in full army uniform, he jumped the wall and he committed a double murder,” he said.
Asked earlier about the reports that Schamber had obtained a restraining order against the soldier, Senior Supt Maharaj said that information still needed to be verified.
Roberts said one of his relatives lived in the area and he had been on the phone speaking to his daughter when the soldier walked in the home of Schamber and De Leon.
“I heard screaming and shouting and panicking and I called the police, but I could not get an idea or a concept on what was taking place,” he said. “I jumped in my car and while I was coming here, I called the police. I called 999 and gave them information.”