PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad--A man and a woman were shot and killed in Laventille, Port of Spain, on Monday, taking the homicide toll for the year so far to at least 73.
Police were told that around 8:00am Andre La Touche (28) and Adeola Noel (25) of Eastern Quarry, Port of Spain, had just left their house in a car, a Nissan Tiida, when they were ambushed by a gang of men.
Both were shot multiple times and died at the scene on Pashly Street.
Shortly after the killing, the National Security Ministry issued a statement on crime-fighting work done by the police. The statement reads:
“In keeping with the Ministry of National Security’s drive to strengthen law enforcement operations to more efficiently combat crime, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service conducted overnight anti-crime operations that resulted in the following successes:
“Around 7:00pm on Sunday, February 21, 2016, Officers from the Carenage Police Station were on static duty in Cocorite when they heard several loud explosions. Following the explosions, they observed a silhouette of man acting suspiciously. Officers gave chase but the man evaded capture. On searching the area, Officers found and seized a dark metal object resembling … a firearm containing ammunition. The firearm and ammunition were conveyed to the Carenage Station.
“Later that evening, around 8:10pm, a party of Officers attached to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Strike Team was on mobile patrol duty in the Endeavour Chaguanas area, when they had cause to stop and search a blue Nissan B11 motor vehicle. The vehicle was driven by a 23-year-old male of Endeavour Road Chaguanas, with three passengers: a 20-year-old male of Lee Trace, North Cunupia; a 22-year-old male of Endeavour Road Chaguanas and a 20-year-old male of Jerningham Junction, Cunupia. A search of the men and the vehicle was conducted and one pistol containing five rounds of 9mm ammunition and 1 gram of marijuana were found and seized on the driver’s person. The driver of the vehicle was charged for possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. The other occupants were charged for possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. The homes of the four men were also searched, however, nothing illegal was found.
“On Monday, February 22, 2016, around 1:15am, Officers attached to the Port of Spain Task Force, Northern Division Police and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), acting on information received, conducted an exercise in a cemetery located at Lady of Fatima Church, Laventille. On arrival checks were carried out in the Mulrain area when they notice three men dressed in dark clothing acting suspiciously. The men ran off and Officers gave chase to Pleasant Park. One of the men held a transparent backpack which was discarded during the chase. A comprehensive search of the area was carried out and the transparent backpack was found which contained a magazine with several rounds of .22 ammunition, four rounds of 12-gauge ammunition and 500g of marijuana.” ~ Trinidad Express ~
