Police are fearful that the murder of known drug dealer Gary “Lion” Mc Clarence will spark reprisal killings in the La Romaine district.
Investigators say they are now putting systems in place to stem the impending bloodshed they believe may come.
Mc Clarence was pursued by five men and shot over 15 times outside Superpharm in Gulf View on Thursday night.
Even as he lay dead on the ground in a pool of blood, people were already calling the name of the person they suspected had called the hit on the known crime boss.
Police said Mc Clarence, 38, of Temple Street, La Romaine, and his wife Jeanelle were sitting in their Toyota Prado in the car park of Pizza Hut, Gulf View, when he left the van and walked over to SuperPharm to make a purchase.
Investigators believe he was followed and while exiting the pharmacy, his assailants unleashed a hail of gunfire which had bystanders scampering for safety. Terrified SuperPharm staff shut the doors and called in the police. Customers were prevented from leaving until the police arrived.
A source said the killers knew Mc Clarence was inside the pharmacy. They shot at a delivery truck which was outside the pharmacy and as the driver sped off they began shooting at Mc Clarence. Luckily, no one else was caught in the crossfire. The killers then jumped into a white Nissan Tiida and escaped. The car was found abandoned at the M2 Ring Road hours later.
Mc Clarence’s body was viewed by District Medical Officer Dr Ramdhin. More than 20 spent shells were recovered at the scene.
In 2016, Mc Clarence was shot in the leg and this sparked an increase in shootings in La Romaine. The police later set up the La Romaine Police post and ramped up activities at the Police Youth club to encourage youths to stay away from crime.
Investigators say they are now hoping that Mc Clarence’s killing will not unravel some of the efforts they put into reducing crime between the warring drug dealers.
Cpl Patrick of the Homicide Bureau is continuing investigations.