Bodies hurriedly taken to hospital

Two men identified as suspects in a series of kidnappings, robberies and other illicit activities were killed in a shootout with officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad at Lady Young Road, Morvant. The bodies were hurriedly removed from the scene to hospital. Police officers recovered two pistols and a stolen car. Reports revealed that around 11 am yesterday, officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad received a report that two occupants were travelling in a stolen car transporting arms and ammunition. AKS officers in an unmarked blue Lancer responded to the information and intercepted the car in the vicinity of William Avenue, Morvant.

Officers claimed that the occupants of the car bearing a false number plate PBN 5084 started firing at them. The cops returned fire. Two men, one from  Morvant and the other from San Fernando were killed. They were identified as Stanley Hope, 30, of Angelina Terrace, Morvant and Ryan Jaipaul, 32, of St John’s Village, San Fernando. The two men were suspects in a series of kidnappings and organised crime throughout the country. At the scene of the shooting death, ASPs Henry Millington, Adam Joseph, Sgt Issac, other AKS and Homicide officers along with those from the Crime Scenes Unit collected spent shells from the scene. Senior officers told Newsday that the suspects killed in the shootout may have been on their way to carry out a crime.

They added that the car used by the suspects was stolen and the number plate of a trailer truck was used on the car. Kevin Hope, the brother of Stanley Hope said his brother was executed. He said that motorists and residents of the area who witnessed the incident told him that the blue Lancer pulled in front of the car his brother was driving and began firing at the occupants. He said that his brother was shot several times in the chest and head and died instantly. He was allowed to view the body at the Port-of-Spain mortuary. When Newsday visited Angelina Terrace where Hope lived, residents said that he was a “bad boy” and was always in possession of large sums of money.

They added that on Tuesday night Hope was “showing off” with $20,000 he had in his possession. They added that Hope’s girlfriend runs a car rental company and he was always driving different vehicles. The incident yesterday caused traffic to come to a virtual standstill for more than an hour as police officers carried out investigations.