The homicide toll has climbed to 347 after five men were murdered between Tuesday and yesterday in separate incidents. Two of the victims remained unidentified up to late yesterday. According to police reports around 10.30 yesterday morning bathers at Pool 1, Caura River, saw the body of an East Indian man, hogtied and floating in the river.
The man, believed to be in his late 40s to early 50s, was clad in three-quarter pants and a dark coloured jersey. In the second killing 30-year-old Rene Duprey, of John John, Laventille, was shot once in the head while walking on Queen Street, Port-of-Spain, around 12.30 pm yesterday. Duprey, a Muslim and security guard, was on his way to the Queen Street mosque. Police said he was shot once in the head in a Muslim versus non- Muslim feud. On Tuesday three people were gunned down according to police reports.
The first man to be killed is still unidentified and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port of- Spain General Hospital. Lawmen said residents of Nelson Street reportedly heard several gunshots around 2 am and upon checking he was found nursing gunshot wounds outside the South East Port-of-Spain Secondary School. Residents of the area said they did not know him. No description of the deceased was given.
Some 14 hours later, murderers struck again, this time their target was 20-year-old Andre Harewood, of East Dry River, Port-of-Spain. Harewood was shot dead around 4 pm yesterday while standing on the corner of Duncan Street and Independence Square, Portof- Spain. According to police, a car pulled up alongside Harewood and a gunman opened fire on him. He was shot several times and taken to Port-of-Spain General Hospital.
He died a short while later. Less than two hours after Harewood's killing Machel Mahadeosingh was shot while at a tyre shop on the Eastern Main Road, Laventille. Police reports are that around 5.30 pm two men approached Mahadeosingh, 26, and shot him about the body. He was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Complex where he died.
Police say they have no motive for the three killings. In two other unrelated incidents, Mark Davis, 35, of Beetham Gardens, was driving on the west-bound lane of the Eastern Main Road when he was shot in the right hand. He was taken to hospital and treated. The other shooting took place around 1 pm. Police said 21- year-old Sherwin Cupid, of St Paul Street, was shot in the right foot while at the Mango Rose basketball court.