Employees of a Barataria garage and hardware were left shell shocked after police officers and a bandit traded bullets near their workplace.
The bandit, who was later identified as Casey Watts, of Beetham Gardens, died at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital while undergoing treatment. Police arrested three others including a ten-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy.
According to a police report, at about 12.23 pm officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force went to Frank Jeeta Inspection Station along the Eastern Main Road, when they spotted a car which had been reported stolen during a home invasion in Trincity on Monday.
As the officers approached, Watts exited the vehicle and attempted to run away and shot at the police. Officers returned fire.
The two boys, police said, also got out of the car and attempted to escape but were held a short distance away.
Speaking with the Guardian Media at the inspection station, a senior employee of the inspection station praised the police for their response.
“I think was three vehicles involved and this particular one came in here pretending to get it to tint; that’s when the four police vehicles pulled up…the police got a tip-off and they were in the area and pull up after this car pulled in the place,” the employee said.
Being a victim of robbery on two occasions before, the employee said all of them including workers at the hardware next door remain “very scared.”
“There are bullet holes on the walls, ground and the drinks fridge glass shattered; but thank God none of us who work here got injured. The police did a good job,” he added.
Up to press time, the minors remained in police custody at the St Joseph Police Station.
This is the third fatal shooting involving the police for 2019.
On Wednesday, police shot and killed a robbery suspect, an ex-soldier identified as Vernon Simon in Caroni.
On Saturday, police officers shot and killed Jamel Woods, 24, of Waterhole in Cocorite.
Investigations are continuing.