3 shot dead over the weekend

THREE persons were shot dead in separate and unrelated incidents between Saturday night and early yesterday, marking a particularly bloody weekend in which the murder rate for this year jumped quickly from 60 to 63. Police sources des-cribed two of the killings as acts of revenge while the other slaying was labelled as gang-related.

The first murder occurred at 9.30 pm on Saturday, when 20-year-old Isaiah Simon was gunned down on Pinto Road, Arima — a short distance from his home. Simon, who police knew well, died on the spot and police investigators assured that arrests were imminent. When Newsday visited Simon’s home yesterday, no one answered our calls. Murder number 62 occurred when a 33-year-old man who was released from prison a week ago was shot dead on Rich Plain Road, Diego Martin, on Saturday night.

According to reports, Michael Burnette of Rich Plain Road, Diego Martin, was liming with friends  at 9.30 pm, when several loud explosions were heard. After residents scampered for safety they spotted Burnette lying in a pool of blood. Officers of the West End Police Station are investigating this murder. Donnie George Temfee, of 42nd Street, Straker Village, Laventille, became murder victim number three for the weekend when he was shot dead in Laventille yesterday.

This murder occurred shortly before noon. Newsday understands several gunshots were heard by residents shortly after 10 am. On investigating, residents found the body of a man lying in a drain. According to reports, Temfee sustained gunshot wounds to the back and chest. Police sources suspect the killing was drug related. Detectives from Northern, Port-of-Spain and Western Division and the Homicide Bureau are all involved in investigations into the three murders. Up to late yesterday, no arrests had been made.