Special Branch officer remains in custody

The officer, who has about 20 years’ service, was liming near Woodstock Bar, located at Indian Walk in Moruga at about 2 am on Saturday when the incident occurred.

A police report stated that he observed two men, later identified as Rodriguez and his brother, Saran Albert Thomas, 29, striking his car, a Lancer, which was parked a short distance away.

The report added that the off-duty officer approached the men and enquired their reason for doing it.

A verbal clash followed by a physical altercation ensued during which the brothers began beating the officer.

The police report further stated that fearful for his life, the officer in a bid to defend himself opened fire at the men using his service revolver.

Both Rodriguez and Thomas, of Fifth Company in Moruga, were rushed to the Princes Town Area Hospital and later transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital.

Rodriguez, who worked as a lorry loader at the San Fernando City Corporation, died at the hospital shortly after arrival.

His brother, however, remained warded in a stable condition with a gunshot wound to the hand.

First responders, a party of officers from Princes Town, among them PCs Mohammed and Brown, visited the scene and retrieved the firearm from the corporal whom they took to the station.

Relatives of the brother are however claiming that Rodriguez was running away when the off-duty officer opened fire.

An autopsy is expected to be performed today at Forensic Sciences Centre at St James.

Officers of the Princes Town Police Station and the Homicide Bureau (Region III) are investigating.