T&T thief shoots self fatally in hijacked taxi

(Trinidad Express) A thief shot himself in the head while robbing passengers in a taxi he hijacked in Chaguanas yesterday afternoon.

Abraham Bourne, 25, of Crown Trace, Enterprise, died seated next to two female passengers.

His body was identified at the scene by his mother, Glenda Bourne, and wife, Whitney Mayers, both of Enterprise.

The shooting occurred around 12.15 p.m.

Police were told that Bourne got into the back seat of a “PH” taxi driven by a 37-year-old man of Couva.

The driver’s wife occupied the front passenger seat.

The driver told police he picked up Bourne at Southern Main Road, Couva, and the two female passengers at Southern Main Road, Chase Village.

The driver said when he neared the traffic light intersection near Factory Road, Chaguanas, Bourne pulled a gun and announced a hold-up.

He ordered the driver to park roadside and he pulled up near a Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission sub-station at Ramsaran Street.

Police were told Bourne robbed the two female passengers of cash, jewelry and other valuables, but when he turned the gun to the driver’s wife, the driver pulled a knife.

The driver and thief began fighting and the gun discharged, police were told.

The thief was shot through the forehead.

A team of police officers led by Senior Superintendent of the Central Division Deodath Dulalchan, Superintendent Johnny Abraham and Inspector Wayne Lawrence visited the scene.

Police recovered a gun.