Escaped kidnapped businessman shot

A KIDNAP businessman, who managed to escape his abductors several hours after they snatched and held him, was shot twice while fleeing, police said.

Philmore John, 41, of Trincity, is now warded at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, in stable condition.  He has been shot on the left side of his back and right arm, police told Sunday Newsday. John is the proprietor of First Step Shoe Store, Trincity Mall.  According to police reports, John was driving his green B14 Nissan Sentra vehicle along Beaulieu Avenue, Trincity around 2 pm on Friday. Northern Division police said a white B14 Nissan Sentra, in which there were three occupants, pulled in front of John’s vehicle, thereby causing the businessman to stop his car. Lawmen said the men abducted John, who was then bound and gagged and placed into the trunk of his vehicle.  He was transported to Maraval.

Police said John was left at Maraval in company with two men.  The Trincity businessman managed to free himself just after 6 pm on Friday, but as he was fleeing the Maraval house, he was shot on the left side of his back and on his right arm. Bleeding, police said John then made his way to the Maraval Police Station where he made a report.  Police there took him to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Maraval police confirmed that John made a report at 11.56 pm on Friday and said the report from Northern Division police was consistent with what they were told. Police said they later found John’s vehicle partially burnt on Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain.  It is now lodged at the Besson Street Police Station. No arrests had been made up to late evening.  PC Hernandez of Arouca Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is continuing investigations.