Murder in La Horquetta

A 26-year-old man was shot and killed by a lone gunman at Dove Road, in La Horquetta on Saturday night.

Police reported that at about 9.45 pm, Rayode Richards, of Petrel Lane, in La Horquetta, was on his way to work when he was shot by a gunman. Richards, who was employed as a security officer at the La Horquetta Mall, left home early to lime with his friends on Dove Road, before heading to work. Richards was approached by a gunman who opened fire. Richards collapsed on the ground.

Patricia Richards Bibby, Richards’ mother, said the family had returned home from a wedding, and while she was undressing she heard gunshots.

“By the strength of God we will live,” Bibby said in an interview at her home yesterday.

Residents who heard the noise called the E999 rapid response unit.

Richards was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body was taken to the Port-of-Spain mortuary, and an autopsy is expected to be performed at the Forensic Science Centre, St James today.

Police sources said Richards’ body had multiple gunshot wounds.

The Homicide Bureau is continuing the investigations.

In another incident, three men are being held in police custody after they were involved in a shootout in San Juan, with officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force early yesterday morning.

At about 11.45 pm on Saturday, officers headed to Mission Road after they got a tip-off that a murder suspect was in a car in the area.

The task force team spotted the vehicle and ordered the men to stop. The occupants opened fire and the officers shot back. A chase began, but the gunmen’s car was blocked by other officers at 6th Avenue in San Juan. The car crashed.

When the officers searched the car, three persons were found injured. One of the men fled the scene on foot and is still at large. The men were taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where they were treated and discharged into police custody. This makes the second shootout between police officers and gunmen, for the week. On Thursday night, kidnap accused, Kerron Toppin, was killed in a shootout with the police. A suspect was also held in that shootout. He is in police custody at the Tunapuna Police Station, and will appear before a Tunapuna magistrate today.

Meanwhile, a 30-year-old John John man is now warded and listed in critical condition at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital after he was shot by a gunman.

Allan Tony, of McCanoe Quarry, was liming with friends at McCanoe Quarry corner when a dispute started. A man left the area and returned with a gun. The gunman opened fire and Tony slumped to the ground.

Tony was shot in the jaw, chest, back, and hand. He was rushed to Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was warded.