(Trinidad Guardian) One of the main suspects held in connection with yesterday morning’s quadruple murder in Las Cuevas of reputed drug and gun smuggler, Vaughn ‘Sandman’ Mieres, his wife, Alika “Letty” Dehere and two others, has been identified as one of Mieres’ key associates.
Police said they shot and wounded the suspect during a chase and he is currently at a medical institution under heavy police guard.
Investigators said the killers carried out well-orchestrated plan as they drove into the area in a Hyundai Tucson and AD Wagon which they burnt before they escaped by sea in a waiting pirogue. The deadly attacks were carried out with high-powered assault rifles shortly after 4 am.
Officers from several units, including Homicide and Crime Scene Investigations, are currently processing the scene. The entire area had been cordoned off. Helicopters from the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) are doing aerial searches and coast guard vessels are patrolling the waters near the crime scene, Mieres’ a split level house on a hill overlooking the sea.
A release from the T&T Police Service (TTPS) a short time ago confirmed that “at approximately 2.45 am, there was a shooting incident at the home of Vaughn “Sandman” Mieres in Las Cuevas,North Coast Trinidad.”
The release continued: “As a result, the following persons were fatally shot; Vaughn “Sandman” Mieres, his wife Lite Mieres, Nigel “Blood” Octim and a fourth unidentified man. Police are currently questioning a person of interest as investigations are continuing.”
This morning’s murders are believed to be linked to an incident on June 12 on Belmont Circular Road near Providence Girls’ Catholic School, when there was an attempt on the lives of two of Mieres’ children, aged six and 15, who were treated for injuries and mental trauma, along with an 18-year-old student who was shot in the leg.
The driver of the van transporting the children, James Gordon, of Maracas, was also shot but managed escape on foot.
Police said they received information that Mieres had found out who was the mastermind and the henchmen involved in that attack and was planning “deadly revenge”.
At the time of his death, Mieres was out on bail for a series of offences. In September 2017, he was charged with conspiracy to murder Selwyn ‘Robocop’ Alexis on October 2014.
Alexis, leader of an Enterprise, Chaguanas gang, was murdered on July 17, 2016.
Mieres, 44, appeared before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John, in the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court, and was granted $450,000 bail.
Mieres was also arrested after police executed a search warrant at his home for dangerous drugs in August 2017. During the search police allegedly seized US$5,330 and TT$1,100 in cash, along with several pieces of camouflage clothing.
Mieres was among suspected gang leaders arrested and charged during the 2011 State of Emergency.
