Man killed, three critical in Laventille shoot-out

Residents of Trou Macaque, Laventille, were awakened yesterday by gunfire at a house in the area. The shooting left one man dead and three others warded in critical condition at hospital. Those injured were identified as Atiba Grant, 32, his brother David, 29, and their neighbour Aiyka Bobb, 38, all of Trou Macaque Road, Laventille. Up to late yesterday, investigators were still attempting to piece together information from eyewitness’ statements to identify the dead man and the circumstances surrounding his killing. According to police reports, around 7 am, the Grant brothers and Bobb were standing outside their homes when a silver station wagon pulled in front of them. Police said the three occupants of the vehicle exited and opened fire on the men who attempted to scamper from the scene.

 

Residents told police that after minutes of constant gunfire, the car sped off. Investigators said the three men were found by residents, lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds about their bodies. They were taken to Port-of-Spain General Hospital where up to late yesterday they were warded in a critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery.

Officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force and Besson Street CID responded to the scene shortly after, where they found the bullet-riddled body of a man in some bushes in the yard. Investigators believe the unidentified victim was one of the shooters in the incident, but revealed that no firearm was found near his body. 

 

The man was pronounced dead by District Medical Officer Dr Alowe. The body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, where a post-mortem is expected to be conducted today. Investigators said they were working on the theory that the shooting might be gang-related. Police said the unidentified victim might have been caught in the gunfire with other gunmen abandoning him when he was hit. Up to late yesterday, the nation’s murder toll stood at 38 as compared to 46 for the same period last year. Inspector Sahadeo Singh, Sgt Avalon Frank, Cpl Charles Budrie and officers of the Besson Street CID and Region One Homicide Bureau of Investigations are continuing investigations.