(Trinidad Express) Two bystanders were injured yesterday afternoon during a deadly reprisal attack near the Besson Street Police Station, in East Port of Spain, following a murder in Beetham Gardens.
Jonathan Traboulay and Jason Williams were in stable condition at the Port of Spain General Hospital up to last night.
The drama began around 10.30 a.m.
Police said Shakeem Reid, 26, was standing near his home in 19th Street, Beetham Gardens, when a car with several gunmen stopped nearby.
Two got out and opened fire, hitting Reid several times.
He fell and died on the spot as people nearby ran for safety.
The gunmen got back into the car which then sped off.
Officers from the Besson Street Police Station arrived on the scene and were later joined by officers of the Port of Spain Homicide Bureau.
Hours later, the second murder occurred near the Drag Brothers Mall, on the corner of Piccadilly and Besson streets, East Port of Spain.
Police said they believe gang members from Beetham Gardens heard that the car used in Reid’s murder had been abandoned along Piccadilly Street, and it was there they staged a reprisal attack, or what police described as an “answer back”.
Police said that around 3.15 p.m., Darren Douglas, alias “Spooky”, was standing in front of a shop on Piccadilly Street when a car with several gunmen pulled up alongside him.
Two men then opened fire from inside the car, hitting Douglas several times about the body. He ran into the shop where he collapsed.
Police said after Douglas had been shot, several men liming in the area pulled out guns and fired back at the shooters, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
Police said at the time of the shooting several motorists were proceeding through the area and some were about to turn from Piccadilly Street onto Besson Street.
Police said Traboulay had his wife and son with him when he sustained a gunshot to the right side of his neck.
Williams, who had been standing at the side of the road, also sustained a gunshot injury to the abdomen.
Officers of the Besson Street Police Station took Douglas to the Port of Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
They also took Traboulay and Williams to the hospital where the two men were being treated up to last night.
