(Trinidad Express) The killing of two cousins in Maloney on Thursday has pushed this country’s 2024 murder toll to 226.
The comparative toll for the same period in 2023 was 239.
The latest victims are cousins Micah Shavel Alfred, 21; and Jahvill Joseph, 27.
Both men resided in Bitten Boulevard, Maloney Gardens.
About 12.55 p.m. on Thursday, in Kiskadee Lane, Maloney Gardens, Alfred was in a barber shop when a silver-grey Kia sedan drove up outside the establishment.
A masked man exited the front passenger seat of the vehicle holding a firearm.
He shot at Alfred, who was seated in a barber’s chair at the time.
Alfred attempted to run, however, he collapsed a short distance away, bleeding from multiple gunshot injuries.
The suspect returned to the sedan and drove off.
The police and paramedics were notified.
However, before they could arrive, the same sedan pulled up in front of a parlour on Kingbird Drive.
Joseph was standing at the side of the road next to the parlour.
The same masked man exited the vehicle with a firearm.
He was seen talking to Joseph for a few seconds before he shot at the 27-year-old, hitting him multiple times.
The suspect then returned to the sedan which drove off.
A team of officers from the Northern Division, as well as the Homicide Bureau, led by Insp Mascall, W-Insp Gonzales- Lewis, Insp Narace, Sgt Ramoutar, Cpl Jones, Cpl Lewis, among others, responded.
When officers arrived, Joseph was pronounced dead on the scene.
Alfred was taken to the Arima district hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.
Crime scene investigators recovered seven spent 9mm shells and three fragments along Kingbrid Drive where Joseph was shot while 14 spent 9mm shells and two fragments were recovered in Kiskadee Lane where Alfred was shot.
A magazine containing 14 live rounds of 9mm ammunition were also found and seized along Kiskadee Lane.
Police said the incident is believed to be gang related.
