The murder toll was pushed to 280 on Friday night when a gunman shot a 57-year-old man at his home. Ronald Clarke, a tenor player with Exodus Steel Orchestra, died at his Olive Vine Street, Bon Air Gardens, home after two gunmen entered his living room and shot him after robbing his wife of cash and jewelry. At around 10.30 pm, Clarke, was in his living room watching television but then fell asleep on the couch when the men entered the house through an open front door. After robbing Clarke's wife in a back room, one of the men pulled out a homemade shotgun and shot Clarke once in the head.
The man then dropped the gun and fled.
Clarke was pronounced dead on the scene. Arouca Police are continuing investigations. In other reports, 47-year-old Hardath Pope drowned while on a fishing trip with friends at Cuevas Bay, Chaguaramas. Around 2 pm on Friday, Pope, who lived at Charles Street, Esmeralda, jumped off the pirogue to free a net but got into difficulty. One of his friends tried to rescue him but was unsuccessful. The T&T Coast Guard was alerted and took his body to Staubles Bay. An autopsy is expected to be done tomorrow.