Cops must dead

That was one of the many threats hurled at police officers yesterday in the wake of the early morning shooting death of reputed gang member, Anton “ Bready” Mitchell, 26, of Enterprise. Residents, police said, also threatened the lives of their families when they turned on the police officers for fatally shooting one of their own. They denied that Mitchell had shot at police first. Mitchell has since been identified by officers as the “second in command” of the notorious “Unruly Isis Gang” operating in the hotspot Enterprise community.

Further reports stated that Mitchell had been fearful for his life following the recent release of two members of a rival gang from prison.

The killing sparked immediate outrage in the neighbourhood and angry villagers showed their disgust by blocking the road and setting fire to tyres and other debris in Crown Trace and surrounding areas. Fire appliances from the Chaguanas Fire Station responded.

Police officers said they are not taking the threats lightly. “These are active threats coming to us and our families,” one officer told Newsday yesterday.

One person, identified as Jadah Lewis, took to Facebook to express her anger over the killing.

She wrote, “Time fu (sic) men to start rolling on dem police families an show them how it feels to loose (sic) someone dey really love cuz like dey have no heart...how alyah (sic) could kill de boii (sic) just so, alyah to wicket hearted n badminded...” Reports stated that Mitchell was killed during a shootout with police who had entered his home while he was still in his bed. One Glock .9 mm pistol and two live rounds of ammunition and five spent shells were allegedly recovered from the scene. According to a report, at about 5 am yesterday, officers acting on intelligence that Mitchell had been sleeping with an unlicensed firearm for his own protection, obtained a search warrant for arms and ammunition and went to his home located at Walters Lane, off Bhagaloo Trace to execute same. The report further stated that as police announced their presence, Mitchell drew his loaded weapon and opened fire on the officers. Police returned fire hitting Mitchell several times. He was rushed to the Chaguanas District Health Facility where he was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr Rafiqul Iman.

Police said Mitchell had eight matters pending in the court including possession of firearm, possession of ammunition, and assault and battery.

The offences are alleged to have been committed in 2015. Police said three of Mitchell’s victims, who are also from Enterprise, had to be hospitalised after he allegedly shot and wounded them “within the last year.”. Officers of the Central Operations Unit, Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force with the support of a contingent of soldiers from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force were engaged in a 24 hour anti crime exercise in the central division. A senior officer speaking to Newsday said they were praised by members of the Crown Trace community who were on their way to work yesterday morning .

He said: “People in Crown Trace going to work this morning and, under their breath when they are passing, they praising the police for what they did. They watching on the ground, they are afraid to watch you in your face because if someone only see them talking to the police, they could end up as victims.” When contacted for comment, Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams said while he was aware of the police-involved homicide, he was not aware of reports of threats on the lives of police officers who were involved.