Shootout with cops in Central:

A suspect in the murder of Agro Purchaser Steven Hackshaw, was killed in a shootout with officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force at Longdenville, Central Trinidad, on Sunday night.

Two others, a 22-year-old man of Las Lomas Number 2, and an 18-year-old man of Crown Trace, Enterprise, were assisting homicide officers yesterday while another suspect who escaped was said to be making plans to surrender yesterday.

Police seized a .38 revolver following the shootout.

Reports revealed that on Sunday, officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force were called out to assist Central Division in searching for the suspects in the murder of Caparo businessman Steven Hackshaw. At about 9.30 pm on Sunday, officers received a tip off that the suspects were travelling in a motor car towards Longdenville.

IATF officers placed themselves strategically so they could see the approaching vehicle.

Reports revealed that officers called on the driver of the vehicle to stop but he continued driving.

The officers gave chase and on reaching a bridge, the driver reportedly began firing at the police who returned fire.

This resulted in the death of one man and the arrest of two others.

The IATF vehicle transporting the officers involved in the shootout was taken to the Cunupia Police Station.

The suspects were interviewed for several hours yesterday.

Hackshaw, 59, was at his Carr Trace, Caparo home on Sunday at about 1 pm, when he was accosted by a man.

He put up a fight but was stabbed several times.

Hackshaw’s wife Jennifer who witnessed the stabbing death was also stabbed by the killer who then fled the scene.

Police investigators suspect that the killer and his accomplices were after a gun which is owned by Hackshaw.

When the killer was unsuccessful in finding the gun, he decided to rob Hackshaw.

Yesterday, a party of homicide officers led by Supt Ruthven Paul returned to the scene of the crime and interviewed several persons.

At last count, 120 people were murdered for this year.