A young couple was murdered as they slept at their home in Morvant yesterday morning. Less than 12 hours after, two suspects believed to be behind the gruesome double murder, were killed in a shoot-out with police. According to police reports, around 2.30 am, Marlon Raymond, 21, and his 20-year-old girlfriend Sherene Charles were sleeping at their Lady Young Avenue, Morvant, home.
Relatives who live next door to the couple told police that shortly before 3 am they heard several loud explosions which they believed were fireworks. Several hours later, Raymond's sister went to wake the couple, but to her horror she found them lying dead in bed with multiple gunshot wounds.
They were pronounced dead on the scene by the district medical officer who ordered their bodies removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James, where post-mortems will be done today. The murder toll stood at 27 last night after another man was shot dead.
In the couple's murder, police said that around 1.30 pm yesterday, officers from the North Eastern Division Task Force who were investigating the murders received information that the suspects were hiding at an apartment at John Street, Pelican Extension, Morvant. They went to the address, but after the police knocked and identified themselves, the suspects reportedly began shooting at the police through the wooden door.
The police returned fire and after a short exchange, the suspects were wounded. They were taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival. The suspects were identified by police as Michael Stapleton and Eddie Boone. Investigators said they found an Israeli-made Uzi sub-machine gun as well as a .38 revolver with five rounds of ammunition.
The police are working on the theory that the couple's murder may be related to another which occurred last Wednesday, when 19-year-old Quincy Proster was shot dead around midday on Cipriani Street, Morvant. Proster and Raymond had been schoolmates at the Russell Latapy High School.
In a brief interview at his home yesterday afternoon, Raymond's older sister Hazel said her brother had recently enrolled in a football training programme at the school. "He was a real good boy and footballer. Everybody down here shocked that they kill him. I don't know why," a teary-eyed Hazel said.
Hazel said her brother and Charles had begun their relationship almost three years ago and were a happy couple. Charles would have celebrated her 20th birthday yesterday. Supts John Daniel and Baldeo Nanan are investigating both incidents.