Seven murdered yesterday in T&T

(Trinidad Guardian) The murder toll jumped to 263 yesterday with seven people, among them a woman, murdered in four separate incidents in Arima, Point Lisas and Port-of-Spain. The country’s murder toll for the corresponding period last year was 325. Police said the victims were all killed execution style with the victims being in the wrong place at wrong time. In the first incident in Jonestown, Arima, on Thursday night, four men were shot dead while three others were injured when two gunmen attacked a shop in the area.  Those victims are: • Keyon Boldan, 23, a handyman from De Gannes Street, Jonestown, Arima. • James “Tony” Brusco, 50, a construction worker, of Jonestown, Arima. • Brusco’s cousin, Lester Malino, 37, also a construction worker, of De Gannes Street, Jonestown, Arima. In that incident Kern “Pinchers” Mitchell, of Mayaro, Alvin Duncan, of Duncan Street, Port-of-Spain, Ian Richardson and Eugene Khan, both of Jonestown also sustained gunshot wounds in the shooting.

Duncan was shot in the right ankle, Richardson received shots to the left leg and knee, while Khan sustained his injury to the shoulder. Ten minutes after the shooting in Jonestown, Homicide detectives were called out again to investigate the murder of another Arima resident, Sean Thompson, 22, of Evan Rees Lane, La Horquetta, who was killed near his home. The mutilated body of a man from south Trinidad identified as Krishnadath Mungroo, 20, of Penal Rock Road, Penal was also discovered by police at Beetham Gardens early yesterday. Late yesterday, Denise Phillips, was shot in the head at point blank range in Point Lisas. Police say that around 8.40 pm on Thursday night in Jonestown the group of men were liming outside the Corner Cafe Palour on De Gannes Street when they were approached by two men who asked for directions to Lenora Gardens, Arima. The two men suddenly drew firearms and began shooting at the group.

Investigators say Boldan, Brusco and Malino ran into the small shop to seek refuge but were followed by the men who opened fire on them hitting them several times. They were all pronounced dead on the scene by the District Medical Officer. When investigators visited the scene shortly after the incident, Mitchell was discovered dead in nearby bushes with multiple gunshot wounds. Police said he was followed into the bushes by the gunmen and who executed him. Duncan, Richardson and Khan were rushed to the Arima Health Facility where they were treated and remained warded in stable condition.
Residents of the modest area which is located in close proximity to the heart of Arima were all shocked by the sudden attack and denied the attack was related to gang activity. Police said the gunmen made their escape on foot through a nearby track in the area. Crime scene investigators attached to the Special Anti-crime Unit of T&T (SAUTT) visited the scene and recovered over fifty 9mm spent shells.
Police believe that automatic sub-machine guns were used in the attack. Homicide detectives have not established a clear motive for the killings but believe it may be a reprisal for a recent murder in the Arima area.

When interviewed at the Forensic Science Science, St James, yesterday, relatives of the victims said they were shocked by the incident. A relative of Brusco, who asked to remain anonymous, described him as a peaceful family man. She said: “The authorities need to take action against the illegal importation of firearms into T&T.” Sgt Michelle Gosine of the Region 2 Homicide Bureau of Investigations is continuing investigations. In the unrelated shooting, in La Horquetta, Arima, ten minutes after the first, a 22-year-old man was also shot dead. Police say that around 8.50 pm, Sean “Cookie” Thompson, of Evan Rees Lane, La Horquetta was shot several times and killed. Investigators said Thompson was playing a game of cards with friends near his home when the group was approached by a man with a gun.
The man opened fire causing the group to scamper. Thompson was shot once and ran into an alley where he was accosted by another gunman. Police, who arrived on the scene shortly after, discovered Thompson lying face down. He was rushed to the Arima Health Facility where he was pronounced dead.
In a telephone interview yesterday, head of the Northern Division, Senior Supt David Abraham described both shootings as unfortunate.

Abraham said police patrols in the entire division have already been increased. Abraham noted several recent exercises in the Arima area where large amounts of illegal guns and ammunition were recovered.
Meanwhile, Region 1 Homicide detectives are probing Mungroo’s killing.  Mungroo was discovered at the Beetham Gardens, Port-of-Spain.  Mungroo, who also resided at Macoya, Tunapuna was discovered by a resident around 6 am yesterday near a river at Sixth Street, Beetham Gardens. His body was badly burnt, bore several gunshot wounds and was almost decapitated. Fingerprint analysis was used by police in identifying Mungroo’s body.  Assistant Commissioner of Police Raymond Craig and officers of the Besson Street Police Station visited the scene. Investigations are continuing.