Bullets removed, but shopkeeper dies at hospital

A self employed  21-year-old shop keeper who was shot twice outside his Mason Street, Diego Martin, home on Tuesday afternoon, died around 6 am yesterday at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. His murder is the 173rd for the year and represents one more than the 172 persons killed last year. Lawrence Nicome, alias “Putsy,” underwent emergency surgery on Tuesday night but never regained consciousness. Reports revealed that around 6 pm, he was standing close to his home when he was confronted by a man he knew. Following an argument, Nicome was shot twice in the abdomen at point blank range.

His aunt, who identified herself as Aggie, told investigators that she was inside her home when she was alerted to the sounds of gunshots. On checking, she saw Nicome lying in a pool of blood. The injured man was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to remove the two bullets. Police told Newsday that Nicome had a matter pending in court for shooting a man. That matter was due for hearing next week and investigators have linked the death of Nicome to that shooting. Yesterday, police detained a man who they described as the prime suspect in the shooting death of Nicome. Officers were able to secure statements from eyewitnesses who saw the lone gunman shoot Nicome and then fled the scene. When Newsday visited the scene of the shooting, relatives were hesitant to talk about the incident. They claimed that the police were aware of who killed “Putsy” and that was all they were prepared to say.