Death in a hail of bullets

CHRISTOPHER ALEONG, 68-year-old Petit Valley businessman and brother of former BWIA CEO Conrad Aleong, was shot dead while driving his car out of the driveway of his Petit Valley home early yesterday morning.

Police have ruled out robbery as a motive for the killing because a fully-loaded Smith and Wesson gun belonging to Aleong was left in his car. Money and jewelry found on Aleong’s body remained untouched by the killer. The murder of Aleong, a father of seven, is the 212th for the year. He was the owner of Kam Wah Restaurant, Mac Foods, and Albrosco Ltd. Reports revealed that around 6 am yesterday, Aleong was driving out of his driveway at Hibiscus Drive, Petit Valley, when the killer or killers fired six shots at his car. The bullets struck Aleong twice in the chest. He was still alive when his neighbours, who were alerted by the gunshots, found him slumped in the car. The car had crashed into a wall. Police and fire officers were summoned and rushed to the scene.

Aleong was rushed to the St Clair Medical Centre by a Fire Services ambulance, where he died while being examined by doctors. The body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre where it was identified by his sons Francis and Andrew Aleong. The autopsy revealed that death was due to shock and haemorrhage consistent with two gunshot wounds to the chest. Sandra Aleong wife of the murdered businessman is out of the country, but was contacted and told of the murder yesterday. Officers of the Crime Scenes Unit who went to the scene found a white glove believed to have been discarded by a killer. The glove was tested for fingerprints yesterday. A party of officers led by Snr Supt Quashie, and including Supt Nimrod, Sgt Ramsubhag,  Cpls Hannays and  Nimlette, PC Villoreul and others went to the scene and carried out investigations. Police officers told Newsday that two heavily tints cars were seen in the area shortly before the shooting death.

Yesterday, the road leading to Aleong’s home was cordoned off by police. Aleong was a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association and was also well-known in the business community. He was also a racehorse owner, and had many winners including a derby. Magistrate Sonia Aleong is his sister. Investigators told Newsday that Aleong was one of the persons who stood bail for former National Security minister Russell Huggins, who was charged with the Piarco Airport Fraud. Investigators said that they are keeping an open mind in the investigations, and are exploring two motives for the killing. Police believe that the person or persons who killed Aleong had planned the shooting death. The Chamber of Commerce in Port-of-Spain held an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss the current crime situation in the country. Chamber members expressed concern over the spate of murders and called on Government and the police to put an anti-crime plan in place to deal with the situation.