Tobago man ambushed, gunned down

A 38-YEAR-OLD labourer from the Tobago House of Assembly’s (THA) Public Health Department was gunned down by an unknown assailant in Calder Hall, just east of Scarborough, Monday night. Daniel “Slush” O’Neil, originally of Darrell Spring, Scarborough, died instantly. He was shot at close range to the abdomen and shoulder. A bullet was lodged in the driver’s seat. It is believed that O’Neil was shot as he slowed to turn onto the roadway leading to his home. The car then veered off the road, down an incline and ended up in a ‘nose-dive’ position very close to the home of a neighbour.

The fatal shooting occurred around 10.30 pm. Neighbours reported hearing three loud explosions.  When they investigated, they found O’Brien’s body slumped behind the steering wheel of the rented car he was driving. A police team, headed by Asst Supt Maurice Dillon, including Detective Sgt Garfield Moore, Ag Insp Hubert Sharpe and Cpl William Nurse of the Homicide Bureau visited the scene. DMO Dr Mentor Melville, County Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) in Tobago, viewed the body and ordered its removal to the Scarborough Hospital Mortuary. Police investigations are continuing into the third murder in Tobago for the year.