‘Badman’ shot dead in Gonzales

RICHARD Maloney, also known as “Froggy,” a man who neighbours and police described as a “badman,” was shot dead Monday evening while fixing his car at Gonzales. He died a short while later. According to reports, Maloney was repairing his car at Gonzales Terrace in Gonzales around 3.45 pm, when a lone gunman walked up to him and fired several shots, hitting him in his head, chest, leg and hand. Maloney, 24, was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital by a passerby, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The mechanic who was under the car said he heard four shots, but did not see anyone.

No one was home when Newsday visited Maloney’s Rudolph Charles Link Road home in Laventille, but residents described the father of one as a “badman” who made their lives miserable. Police believe the shooting is related to a recent murder in the area. Investigations confirmed that Maloney, who was once a murder suspect, was wanted on several robbery and shooting charges. He also had several similar charges before the court. The Trinidad and Tobago murder toll is now at 207 for 2004. WP Cpl Jones is investigating.