Cops hunt 2 suspects

Ernest King, 38, of Dump Road, Guanapo was killed when he and two other men held up the restaurant which is located on the corner of the Eastern Main Road, and Balthazar Street, Tunapuna.

Police said at about 8.55 pm, Michael Maharaj, was at his restaurant when three men entered the premises. King was armed with a firearm and the other two men had cutlasses.

King pointed his revolver at Maharaj’s face and announced a hold up. His accomplices jumped over the counter and robbed Maharaj of $9,000 worth of cash and jewelry.

The two men then left the premises, while King kept Maharaj at bay. However, Maharaj was able to pull out his licensed firearm and shoot King.

When police arrived on the scene, they seized a .22 revolver loaded with seven rounds of ammunition. King was rushed to the Arima District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A quantity of cocaine and several SIM cards found on his body were handed over to the police.

The body was taken to the mortuary and will be removed on Monday to the Forensic Sciences Centre for an autopsy.

Officers from the Tunapuna Police Station are continuing investigations.