130 murders in 90 days

This was one of three murders yesterday carrying the murder toll to 130, according to a Sunday Newsday count .

At about 6 am yesterday, officers of the Four Roads Police Station responded to a report of a car, a red Nissan Tiida, that had crashed into barriers of the highway in the vicinity of Crystal Stream. The police found the driver, 33-year-old Sherwyn Noel, slumped over the steering wheel .

Upon checking, they found that he had been shot once and there was also a bullet hole in the car .

Noel, of Fuller Street, River Estate, Diego Martin, was self-employed as a plumber/ mason. Police report the motive appeared to be robbery. A suspect is in custody assisting with the investigation .

The area was blocked off by police and drivers were redirected from the highway to the Diego Martin Main Road leading to heavy traffic for more than an hour .

Drivers expressed surprise and dismay when they were told of the murder .

A Crystal Stream resident, who asked not to be named, told Sunday Newsday that it was the first time he had heard of a murder in the area .

“Is a real cool, quiet place. No violence.” Owner of West- Green Vege Mart Sheila Mohammed, 73, said the murder was “not nice at all” .

“This is a quiet place .

Very nice here.” She described the crime scourge as unbearable and “too much” .

A bar patron said the murder “don’t bother me” and “(my) Stag drinking”. Michael Birkett, an 18-yearold employee of a tent rental company, said he has been working in the area for three years and never heard about any murders on the street .

A fisherman, alias Soune, who was selling fish at the corner of Crystal Stream and Morne Coco Road described the murder as “sad” .

“That is somebody family. Regardless if he in (crime) or not in it.” A woman selling with Soune said, “People more concerned about the traffic than the death. It become so normal.” Homicide Bureau is continuing investigations .

In a second incident, Joel “Barber” Alleyne, 39, was found dead at Building 18, Maloney Gardens. According to police, at about 3 am residents reported hearing gunshots and after a search found Alleyne in the bedroom of his apartment .

He had been shot several times .

Northern Division police responded and investigations are continuing .

Details are sketchy in the third shooting but at about 5 pm yesterday a man, identified only as Santo, was driving his white pickup along Johnny King Road, Aranguez when gunshots were heard .

Santo was shot several times through the van and lost control veering off into a drain. He died on the spot .

Officers from the San Juan/Barataria Police Station visited the scene and were awaiting a district medical officer for the body to be removed, up to news time last night .

Residents report police cordoned off the area and instructed them to remain inside .

Investigations are continuing .