" 'Kill as many people as possible,' " was the directive allegedly given by a Rasta City gang leader to two of his lieutenants to randomly execute people on Old Year's Day in the Laventille and East Port-of-Spain area.
Intelligence sources confirmed to Guardian Media that they obtained information from informants about the shootings which had no connection to gang violence.
"There were no intended gang targets at those shootings based on our information and intelligence. There were no Muslim gang members in that area at that time when the Rasta City members opened fire on the crowd in East Port-of-Spain," said an intelligence source, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
"We have been told the intention was to kill as many people as possible. Maximum fatalities seemed to be the objective and we got similar information from informants."
On December 31, three gunmen went to Upper Erica Street in Laventille in a black Nissan Tiida and opened fire on people. During that incident, a five-year-old boy identified as Zackary Hernandez was shot in the leg.
The gunmen then went to the corner of Prince and George Streets and indiscriminately opened fire on people in that area. At least nine people were shot there with 53-year-old Lystra Patterson, from Las Cuevas being fatally wounded while sitting in a maxi taxi to go home.
Two of the three gunmen were later shot and killed along the Eastern Main Road near the Port of Spain market. They were later identified as Richard "Bulls" Thomas, 29, and Joel "Snake" Roberts, 29 both from Sea Lots. The third gunman escaped.
A intelligence source also familiar with the investigation said that they were still piecing together information about "certain people" approaching specific gang leaders and offering them hefty sums of cash to "rain mayhem on people in public spaces."
Sources said that had it not been for the intervention of the off-duty police officer who deterred the gunmen's attempts on that day, the "collateral damage could have been worse."
Another senior intelligence source said they have been gathering information about the December 31 incident and other possible related incidents over the last few months. "There is a lot of sensitive information we still need to verify."
In 2018, one week before December ended, there were approximately 515 murders and in the last week of that year, there were just two murders, with the figure ending at 517.
However, in the last week of 2019, the murder count jumped from 516 to 536 in just under a week following a spate of violent crimes.
Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, commenting on the information Guardian Media obtained, said, "From the police preliminary investigation there were no targeted gang members and if we find out this was a deliberate act to cause mass casualties then this can be deemed a virtual terrorist attack. But I would not make any public statement to confirm or deny such at this time.
"If this is the case we have to verify who were the perpetrators who would have dictated this to be done."
Griffith again blasted attorneys, certain members of the media, activists, and politicians who had said if they had stopped these gunmen minutes before the attack could have been prevented. He said they would have later gotten bail on and find themselves back out on the streets to finish what they started.
"There is no way this could stop if we continue along the legal channels, that is giving shooters get-out-of-jail free cards," Griffith stated
Minister of National Security Stuart Young at post-cabinet on Thursday alluded to the fact that there were certain people bent on creating a crime wave in the country. He said it seemed these elements had a vested interest in creating an environment of panic and fear among the population and "in promoting the criminal element to go out and harm society."
Questions were sent to Young Saturday about how they intend to treat with this serious matter.
1.Based on the intelligence reports that the police have concerning certain people paying gang leaders to perpetuate crime and killings in the country, as head of the National Security apparatus are you all acting on this?
2. Has a plan of action been put into place to deal with this swiftly on all fronts? Some claim you are politicising crime is this a fair statement?
Young did not respond directly to Guardian Media, but later released a statement saying he had no interest in politicising crime.
"Crime affects all in our society and is not limited to our country. I have been working assiduously, and within the scope of my authority, with all of the arms of National Security in the fight against the criminal elements.
"We have been utilising new techniques in the fight and will be employing new technology as well," added.