Ex-US army soldier executed in Santa Cruz

A former member of the United States Army, who was deported back to TT a few years ago, was executed yesterday at his La Canoa Village, Lower Santa Cruz home. Eric Hazzard, 51, alias “Number 1,” aka  “Tallman,” was shot five times about the body at his Percy Street Extension, Dookhan Hill home in Santa Cruz yesterday morning. He then stumbled a short distance away, where he was found dead several hours later. The dead man was the accused in an inquest, due to begin next year in which a fellow villager was chopped to death last year February.

According to reports, residents heard shots at Hazzard’s home at around 5.45 am, and then saw two men running away. At around 10.30 am, when Hazzard was not seen, an investigation was conducted and his body was found in a track behind a water tank at the north-western side of his house. When Newsday visited the area, residents claimed they saw nothing, but heard several shots, but were afraid to get involved. However, a neighbour confided that since the villager’s death, when Hazzard had been released pending the results of an inquest, the unemployed man had not been at the premises.

“During his absence, which was almost a year, he left a guy to stay in the house. When he returned three weeks ago, he and the guy had an argument over something that was removed from the house. “The guy moved out but returned later and issued several threats to “ Number 1” and tenants in the other apartment. What the argument was about we do not know, but it was serious because death threats were made.” Police sources confirmed they are working on two theories: The associates of the killed villager sought revenge, or associates of his former roommate carried out a hit. Hazzard was shot in his groin, back, hand and chest. This brings the number of murders for the year to 254 — 24 more than 2003. Visiting the scene were ASP Felix, Insp Miller and Cpl Thomas. Cpl Thomas is investigating.