Shot gunman found hiding in mangrove

A LONE gunman who shot at police officers while being pursued, was shot in the left leg and ran into the mangrove just off the Beetham Highway, where he attempted to hide. After a 30 minute search by about 100 heavily armed police officers, the suspect was held.

However, police officers were unable to locate the suspect’s gun up to late yesterday. The 22-year-old man, of Phase Four, Beetham Estate, was undergoing emergency surgery at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. The drama started around 9.30 am yesterday when officers from the Port-of-Spain Divisional Task Force were on patrol at Beetham Estate. They began following a car with five occupants. In the vicinity of Servol, the car stopped and a man who was seated in the front passenger seat came out and began running into the nearby mangrove. Officers gave chase and the man began firing at the police. They returned fire and the gunman was shot in the right leg and groin. He escaped in the mangrove.

Officers of the Emergency Health Services were contacted and the area around the mangrove was cordoned off by more than 100 police officers from the Guard and Emergency Branch, the Port-of-Spain CID, the Port-of-Spain Division, and officers of the North-Eastern Division. After a half an hour search the injured suspect was found. He was taken to hospital under heavy police guard. His condition was listed as critical. Police said he was wanted for a series of robberies along the East/West Corridor. The four other occupants of the car were taken to the Besson Street Police Station where they were questioned. The driver of the car claimed he was working PH in Laventille when he picked up the suspect. He said it was the first time he saw the man.

The three other occupants of the car also denied knowing the suspect and claimed they were just passengers in the car. A large contingent of officers, assisted by tracker dogs and the Police Helicopter Unit began combing the mangrove for the gun used by the suspect. This activity attracted scores of curious onlookers and traffic came to a virtual standstill along the highway. ACP Crime Oswyn Allard, Snr Supt Reyes, Ag Supt Denoon, Inspector Ramnarine and others visited the scene.