(Trinidad Guardian) While many people were preparing for errands yesterday morning, the families of five men, including a police sergeant, were left in shock and grief after their loved ones were gunned down in Harpe Place, East Port-of-Spain.
Police said officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) received a report of a shooting at Harpe Place around 10.55 am and went to the area where they found the bodies of Rudolph Donnie James, Randy Graves, 32, and Sgt Larry Phillip, 51.
Two men identified as 51-year-old Pete Noray and Devon Jack, 43, were taken to hospital by passers-by, where they were declared dead.
Residents said Noray was the CEO of garbage collection company Barth-Baz Sanitation.
Chaos reigned as a 44-year-old man was shot during the attack and a woman injured herself when she fell while trying to run from the gunfire.
Police have linked the killings to reprisals. Sources believe the intended target of the shooting may be a man who was implicated in the murder of 11-year-old Ezekiel Paria in February.
They said while the man was not in the immediate area at the time of the attack, the killings were intended to send a message.
When Guardian Media visited the area yesterday, crowds of residents packed the narrow streets as they looked at crime scene investigators counting many spent shells on the ground.
Speaking with reporters at the scene, Phillip’s brother Lennox Phillip said he was hurt and shaken after hearing of the murder.
Phillip, who said his brother was a father of two, called for an end to violence and discouraged any reprisals.
“Reprisal is not a good thing. It’s just us killing out our own. That’s all that’s happening.
“What is hurting is that we keep killing out our own people, we keep killing out one another and it’s just sad.”
Phillip said while he felt the police were doing their best to contain violence and crime, the public also had a responsibility to maintain peace and order.
“Our people are being destroyed because we disobey commandments. We disobey the laws of the most high and we need to go back to that. That’s the only way out of this criminal lifestyle.”
Contacted for comment, Supt Wayne Guerra, head of the TTPS band, said he and Phillip were recruited into the police service at the same time.
He said Phillip, who had over 31 years of service, spoke about retiring soon.
“He was a very quiet, humble person, always helpful and a very hard worker like myself.
“His loss will be very much felt. He was always involved in any activity the band would have, it’s very sad and unfortunate of me to learn the way his passing is. It puts a big damper upon the entire band.”
Guerra said Phillip was skilled in playing the tenor saxophone and bassoon.
He also shared a funny moment where Phillip was part of a parade in a field but unknowingly stood on an ant hill during his performance.
“With the vibration of the marching and the music, the whole nest came to life and he was reaching out to me for me to hold his saxophone while he was stamping and trying to dust off his leg. He was always a laughing person, always liked to make jokes.”
Police asking public to
help with information
Head of the TTPS Social Welfare Association (TTPSSWA) ASP Gideon Dickson also lamented Phillip’s murder, describing the killings as heinous.
He said Phillip’s murder was proof that crime affected everyone and called on the public to do their part to assist investigators.
“We are calling on the public who would have heard, known or seen or may even have footage of the incident to come forward and give the police information as swiftly as possible to rid the streets of these persons who have no consideration at this point in time.”
Guardian Media tried to speak to the families of other victims but were unable to do so.
For hours after the bodies of the men were removed, crime scene investigators and senior police remained at the scene collecting evidence and surveying the general area.
Police said Harpe Place was part of the territory of the Seven gang.
The killings happened mere feet away from the constituency office of Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West MP Stuart Young.
The men were among ten people killed in 24 hours between Friday and yesterday.
Young condemns action
Responding to Guardian Media’s questions via WhatsApp, Young condemned the murders, adding that despite the tragedy, he was assured by the police and the Minister of National Security that they would continue to work towards maintaining order.
“I know within a matter of minutes the police service were there and doing what had to be done and there’s an active investigation going on. I completely condemn the criminal activities and this crime and the criminal element, a small handful of them that seem to be affecting our society so negatively.”
The killings happened a few feet away from Charlotte Street.
In the past, the US Embassy has issued travel advisories warning travellers to avoid certain areas as a result of gang activities.
Last November several people in East Port-of-Spain and Laventille were killed owing to gang violence between the Sixx and Seven gangs.
Housing Minister: These acts will not be condoned
Meanwhile, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Camille Robinson-Regis has also condemned the brazen shooting and subsequent murders at the Harpe Place Development.
