(Trinidad Guardian) A teenager and his brother were shot dead in an alleged police-involved shooting in St Augustine yesterday.
According to a release issued by the T&T Police Service, around 8.45 am, the North Central Division Task Force received information and went to Bassie Street Extension, Spring Village, Valsayn, where they cordoned off a white two-storey house.
On entering the house, officers saw two men exiting the back of the building with firearms in their hands and running east into a bushy area.
The officers chased the suspects, who reportedly both pointed their firearms in the direction of the officers. The police returned fire.
The suspects both sustained injuries and were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex for medical attention. However, they were pronounced dead on arrival.
Police sources confirmed to Guardian Media that the suspects were identified as Sudeen Maharaj, 22, of Savannah Road, Garden Village, Arouca, and Darion “Jojo” Bridgelal, 17, of No 45 Freeman Road, St Augustine.
The release added that the officers seized an AR15 rifle fitted with a magazine containing 30 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, as well as nine spent 9 mm shells and a live 9 mm round.
Also, two shoulder side bags, one containing two live 5.56 rounds of ammunition, and nine clear plastic packets of plant-like material resembling marijuana were seized from the scene.
Guardian Media was told that the homicide officers were investigating a double murder that took place on December 30, 2023, in which Anand Bissoon, 35, of Benny Street, and Shane Ramjitsingh, 20, of Dookiesingh Street Extension, St Augustine, were fatally shot. A third victim, a 20-year-old man from Dookiesingh Street Extension, was wounded in that incident.
Head of the Police Complaints Authority David West said a team of investigators had already been dispatched on inquiries.
West also stated that for the year so far, there had been 12 police-involved shootings in which 17 people were killed.