Senior Reporter
shane.superville@guardian.co.tt
Two months after the mass shooting in which five men were killed, Harpe Place residents continue to take precautions to safeguard their homes
In March, Rudolph Donnie James, Randy Greaves, 32, Sgt Larry Phillip, 51, Pete Noray, 51, and Devon Jack, 43, were gunned down in the east Port-of-Spain apartment complex.
The murders were believed to be a reprisal for the fatal shooting of 11-year-old Ezekiel Paria in February. However, none of the victims were believed to be the intended targets of the killers.
Several people were arrested shortly after the murders but were released without being charged because of insufficient evidence. Homicide detectives investigating the murders are having a hard time getting witnesses to come forward.
Makeshift barricades of traffic cones and barrels are still in place at the entrances to Harpe Place. A resident said when he leaves home to work as a vendor he does not remain outdoors too long as he is concerned about violence.
“It have no particular time these gunmen does come. They coming anytime and they don’t care if man, woman or child is outside,” he said.
“I have to earn a living with my little business but I can’t be careless with myself.”
Chairman of the East Port-of-Spain Development Company Hillan Morean lamented the unpredictable nature of violence, noting that innocent bystanders are often the victims.
“The sad reality is that just association is enough to get killed. You’re not involved in crime, but you’re associated with someone who is and that’s it and if we can try to get the young people so they aren’t associated, that would be good,” he said.
Morean said the agency works to develop east Port-of-Spain through social interventions and training initiatives, but outbursts of violence are a challenge.
One of the current initiatives is a business nursery which provides cash and mentorship for entrepreneurs who hire within the neighbourhood. This is aimed at reducing unemployment while empowering communities.
Police say similar “clusters” of mass shootings have been reported in the Port-of-Spain, Western, Northern and Central Divisions and the prevalence of automatic weapons has helped contribute to the high body count in these attacks.
Multiple murders (Put in box)
2020
• January 13 - The charred remains of Venezuelans Luis Santiago Figuera, Celso Andrade Cedeno and Flor Leal Garcia found in a house at Upper Dibe Road, Long Circular, St James.
• January - Damien, Polly and Deoraj Chuniesingh killed in their home at Getwell Avenue, Pinto Road, Arima.
2021
• January - Shevon Williams and Atiba Welch gunned down in Waterhole, Cocorite.
• March, 29 - Antonio Francis and Semion Daniel, both 15 years old, killed in McShine Lands, Laventille.
• August - Avinash Sookraj, 31, Jimmy Poon, 25, their brother-in-law Radesh Pooran, 54, Russel Poon, 53, and neighbour Ryan Sookraj, 26, gunned down near Gangadeen River, Carapo.
• September - Reuben Ramsahoy, 21, Mason Maynard, 30, and Ricardo Samuel killed in Kelly Village, Caroni.
• September - Neil Ragoobar, 36 and his nephew, Arkille Absalom, 21, gunned down in Enterprise, Chaguanas.
• September - Kumari Kowlessar-Timal, 76, Radeshka Timal, 48, and Zackary Shrikan David, 21, gunned down at a house on Don Miguel Road, San Juan.
• November 29 - Keston Bailey, 31 and 17-year-olds Shevon Charles and Joshua Francis were killed during a drive-by shooting at Despers Drive, Laventille.
2022
• January - Jermarc Quashie, Terrence Nixon and Skeete Sanchez killed on the Toco Main Road, Sangre Grande.
• January - Sharlene Lawrence and Roy Mahabir killed on Sampson Street Extension, Cunupia.
• February - 15-year-old Kevin Kyle Spring, Joseph Spring and Rondell John gunned down on Upper Cemetery Street, Diego Martin.
• April - The burnt bodies of Ako Matthew, Robin Sancho Jr and Alexsia Edwards found at the side of the North Coast Road, Maraval.
• September - Security guards Jeffrey Peters and Jerry Stuart killed during a robbery at Pennywise Plaza, La Romaine.
• October - Nizam Owen,5, Chelsea Julien and Akil Keron Gloster killed in Diego Martin.
• November - Jevon George, Cody Pierre and Alex Morton gunned down on Sapodilla Trace, Laventille.
2023
• January - Keron Madoo, 16, Andre Singh, 16, and 19-year-old Jamal Hackshaw killed in Boys Lane, D’Abadie.
• January - Brothers Justin Paul, Curtis Dobson and Sharlini Shivanand killed at Rose Drive, Carapo.
• May - Brian Perouse, Brandon Charles and Dale Alexander killed at a bar in Santa Cruz.
• July - Neyland Glasgow and Dana Joyles killed in Scorpion Alley, Carenage.
• August - Leon Sylvester and Elijah Brewster killed in Scorpion Alley, Carenage. Days later, Joshua George and Israel Letren were gunned down in Scorpion Alley, Carenage.
• September - Faith Peterkin, 10, Arianna Peterkin, 14, Shain Peterkin, 17 and Tiffany Peterkin, 19, shot and killed at their Heights of Guanapo, Arima, home.
2024
• January - Israel McLaren, Shaqkeem Dennis and Jammol Williams gunned down in Paradise Heights, Morvant.
• March - Jeremiah George, Marcus Buddy, Buddy George and Dion Mendoza killed in Mayaro.
• March - Rudolph Donnie James, Randy Graves, 32, Sgt Larry Phillip, 51, Pete Noray, 51 and Devon Jack, 43, gunned down in Harpe Place, east Port-of-Spain.
• May - Shaquille Ottley, 22, Sadiki Ottley, 31, Antonio Jack, 57 and Jonathan Osmond, 36, killed at Powder Magazine, Cocorite.
