Homeless ‘Yankee’ killed in Arouca (with CNC3 video)

Murder in Arouca

As Carnival celebrations continued throughout the country yesterday, an early morning murder in Arouca marred festivities and brought an abrupt end to an impromptu lime. However, senior divisional police officials assured that the murder of a homeless man was not connected to the Carnival revelry.

Up to midday yesterday, officers were yet to ascertain the name and address of the victim known only as “Yankee.” Yankee, 54, was said to have moved to Arouca two months ago from Port-of-Spain, but had no fixed place of abode.

Around 1 am on Tuesday, residents of Victoria Street, Lopinot Road, located just off the Eastern Main Road, Arouca, reported hearing gunshots. The shooting sent patrons liming at a nearby bar scampering to safety. Upon checking a short while later, residents discovered Yankee’s body lying on Victoria Street and contacted the Arouca police.

The district medical officer visited the scene and pronounced Yankee dead, before ordering his body removed. Senior police officers yesterday said although Yankee was known as a “pest” in the Arouca district, they were unsure of exactly why he was killed. Yesterday’s killing brought the murder toll to 48 for the year.

Referring to the killing during a walkabout at the Queen’s Park Savannah yesterday, Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson reiterated that it could not be linked to Carnival celebrations. Responding to questions from reporters as he inspected the proceedings at the Savannah, Richardson described the C2K13 celebrations as “peaceful,” as he said there were minor incidents but nothing the police could not handle.