Wanted man shot dead by cops

A 32-year-old man who was wanted for several robberies and shootings in the Central Division was shot dead during a shootout with police officers around 5 am yesterday. The dead man was identified as Aaron Whiley, of Tobago Extension Road, Chrissie Terrace, Enterprise. Reports revealed that around 5 am yesterday, officers of the Central Division police led by Inspector Burt Raphael, Sgt Dennis Housend, Ag Sgt Ajith Persad and including PCs Wiltshire, Toleram and others went to Walcott Lane, Enterprise, to execute a search warrant at a house where Whiley was believed to be hiding. When officers surrounded the house, they were greeted by rapid gunfire and they returned fire. Officers carried out a check and discovered the body of Whiley in a bedroom located south of the house. He was shot once in left side of the chest. Officers seized a shotgun and took the bleeding Whiley to the lower part of the house, and then transported him to the Chaguanas Health Cenre where he was pronounced dead by Dr Shricharran Reddy. District Medical Officer Dr Viahnu Geelal also viewed the body and ordered its removal to the Forensic Science Centre. An autopsy on the body will be carried out on Monday. Yesterday, ACP Crime Oswyn Allard gave instructions to Supt Dyo Mohammed of the Southern Division Homicide to carry out an investigation into the shooting death. A party of officers led by Snr Supt Philip Carmona also visited the scene of the shooting death. Police officers told Newsday that Whiley was released from prison three months ago after serving 10 years for armed robbery.

They claimed that he was a suspect in the hold-up of the Montrose branch of Kentucky Fried Chicken one month ago as well as several robberies and shootings including those involving victims who were at homes that were held up and robbed. Yesterday, scores of robbery victims went to the Chaguanas Police Station and looked at a picture file of persons convicted for crimes and Whiley was pointed out for several robberies and shootings. At the scene of the shooting death, the occupants of the house where the incident took place said that Whiley did not deserve to die the way he did. One resident of Walcott Lane who preferred to remain anonymous said that Whiley was a coke addict and a person who spent his days and nights living a life of crime. Residents claimed that on Thursday night, Whiley carried out a robbery and went to the house at Walcott Lane where he snorted cocaine using $100 bills. His mother, Sylvia Whiley told Newsday that she dreamt three days ago that her son was lying dead in a cemetery. She added that her son was a good person but she claimed that she wanted no part in identifying his body or attending his funeral.