A 20-year-old man died in hospital yesterday while being treated for severe chop wounds which he suffered when he was attacked near his Chase Village, Chaguanas home on Wednesday night. According to a report, around 8.45 pm, Keedel Walters of Derrick Road, Chase Village, was standing in the road near his home when he was approached by a man thought to be a friend.
Residents told police that after a brief argument the man drew a cutlass from his knapsack and chopped Walters several times before running away. Walters reportedly ran a short distance towards his home before he collapsed. Neighbours and relatives took him to the Chaguanas Health Facility. He was then transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he died after undergoing emergency surgery.
Police from the Chaguanas CID, led by Insp Wayne Lawrence, were up to late yesterday searching for the suspect. Homicide detectives said that before his death Walters was able to identify his attacker, who is said to be known to the police. Immigration officials were notified, since it was believed that the suspect might try to leave the country to avoid capture. The murder toll stood at 216 for the year up to yesterday afternoon. Senior Supt Deodath Dulalchan and Sgt Andy Mohammed of the Freeport Police Station are probing Walter's murder.