Four men were murdered in separate shootings in Laventille, Morvant and Rio Claro within 24 hours of National Security Minister Jack Warner's announcement of a reduction in the crime rate. Those killed have been identified as:
• Marcus Garcia, 33, Roble Grove Road, Rio Claro;
• Michael Rigault, 46, of Cross Road, Brooklyn, Laventille;
• Charles Alexis, 34, of Bowen Trace, Laventille; and
• Marvin Brewster, 36, of Hall's Lane, Pelican Extension, Morvant.
Up to late yesterday the murder toll stood at 269 for the year. While speaking at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Warner announced several statistics which he said showed the crime rate was "not as grim as it seemed." Warner was quoted as saying there were 262 murders between January and Tuesday, an almost three per cent reduction compared to the same period last year.
"It is no comfort that there were eight less murders this year... the point I am making is that it is not as bad as it seems," he said. In the first of the four murders, which occurred around 10.30 pm on Tuesday, Garcia was shot dead as he sat in his car outside his relative's home in Rio Claro. Residents of Laventille were yesterday awoken by gunshots which signalled the first of two murders which were recorded in the area yesterday.
According to police reports around 6 am, residents of Cross Road, Laventille, reported hearing a series of gunshots. During a search of their community residents found Rigault lying face down in a track with gunshot wounds to his head. He died on the scene. Almost six hours later, homicide detectives were summoned to Laventille for a second time, after Alexis was shot dead while plying his car for hire along Laventille Road.
Alexis, a father of one, was said to be driving around 1.30 pm, when the lone passenger in his car said he wanted to be dropped near to Rudolph Charles Link Road. Before leaving the vehicle, the passenger drew a firearm and shot Alexis twice in the head. He too died on the scene of the shooting. Investigators said Rigault was not known to be involved in criminal activity but noted he was detained in the past for petty criminal offences.
ASP Ajith Persad, acting Insp Wayne Lawrence and Cpl Donovan Thompson are probing boths murders. In another incident yesterday afternoon, Brewster, a known gang member who was wanted for the recent murder of 30-year-old neighbour Ayana Williams, was shot dead near his home. Police said around 2.30 pm, Brewster was walking along the road near his home when he was approached by a gunman who shot him several times in his head and upper body.
His body was found in a drain by residents who responded to the gunshots. Officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force (NEDTF), led by Sgt Cornelius Samuel and Cpl Darryl La Pierre, who were on mobile patrol in the area at the time of the shooting, arrived on the scene shortly after but were too late to apprehend Brewster's attacker.
Around 3.45 am, Last Saturday Williams was shot 13 times as she slept at her Morvant home. Her common-law husband, Michael Bourse, was injured in the attack. Investigators have listed Brewster and Williams' murders as gang-related. Post-mortems on all four victims will be performed today at the Forensic Science Centre, St James. Insp Ramlogan and detectives of the Morvant CID are investigating both incidents.