Six shootings as gang war heats up

POLICE have stepped up patrols in the so-called hotspots in North and East Trinidad after an escalation of gang-related shootings. Four persons were shot within 24 hours between San Juan and Laventille and several bullets recovered. In the first incident, around 6 pm Monday, police were called out to Belgrade Street, off Observatory Street, Port-of-Spain after a shooting. While at Belgrade Street, police had to respond to two more shootings at Mango Alley and at Duncan Street. Police recovered 30 spent shells and three damaged cars. No one was injured.

At 7.45 pm Anthony Stephen was liming at Desperlie Crescent in Laventille, when a man came up and fired several shots, hitting him in his buttocks and lower abdomen. He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where he  is warded in serious condition. At 12.35 am yesterday, patient care attendant Lana Lewis, 24, was walking along Observatory Street when a man walked up and fired a shot, hitting her in her right knee. She is also is warded at the PoS hospital. Later, at 2.15 am, Marvin Lewis was walking along Burke Street in El Socorro, when a gunman walked up to him and shot him in his right knee.

Police believe all the shootings are  related to gangs operating in the Quarry Street, Harpe Place, Nelson Street, John John and San Juan areas, and have stepped up patrols in these areas. In an unrelated matter, police believe the murder of Omar Zulu in Diego Martin last week, the shooting of Sharon St Louis at Rich plain, Diego Martin, the attempted shooting of her two sons Nathaniel Alexander and Sherwin Mcclean, and the attempted arson of her neighbour’s house, are all related to the gang war for control of the drug turf, women and projects in that area.