Allan “AJ” Martin, the son of slain gangster Allan “Scanny” Martin, was shot dead by an off-duty police officer during an attempted robbery in Chaguanas on Sunday.
Police said Martin, 20, was linked to the Unruly Isis gang of Enterprise and has a criminal record.
Police suspected that Martin, along with two accomplices, attempted to rob the off-duty officer and his 25-year-old girlfriend outside his home.
The incident occurred just under two years after police killed Martin’s cousin, Jelani Sajjad Martin.
Following Jelani’s death, several officers from the Chaguanas Police Station revealed that they feared for their lives as well as their families’ as they received death threats.
In July 2017, Jelani, 24, a member of the Unruly Isis gang, was shot dead by police along the Caroni Savannah Road. Central Division police were patrolling the area when Martin allegedly shot at them. They returned fire, hitting him several times. He was taken to the Chaguanas District Health Facility where he died. Witnesses claimed that Jelani had no gun and police murdered him.
Reports indicated that around 12.15 am, the officer had just parked his SUV in front of his home in Enterprise and opened the gate. His girlfriend was sitting in the passenger’s seat.
As he re-entered the vehicle to park it in the yard, he noticed through the rear-view mirror a SUV pull up behind.
Two masked men exited while the driver remained in the vehicle. Police said the off-duty officer shot at Martin as he opened the passenger’s door. Martin was wearing a mask and gloves and was armed with a gun, the police report stated.
Police said there was a gunfight and the officer fired several shots at the suspects who ran off along Amow Street.
Central Division police responded and found Martin bleeding in a track nearby with a mask and glove next to him. He was taken to the Chaguanas District Health Facility where he died.
The driver, a 20-year-old man from Railway Road, Enterprise, was arrested. The SUV was impounded at the Chaguanas Police Station. Officers found a false registration plate covering the original. The third suspect, who was believed to have been injured, escaped and a manhunt was launched for his arrest.
Investigators said that the officer, in protecting himself and his girlfriend, fired 21 shots.
Investigators did not recover Martin’s gun at the scene due to the terrain and poor lighting.
About Allan “Scanny” Martin
Scanny, 42, was one of 12 men charged for the murder of Xtra Foods CEO Vindra Naipaul-Coolman, who was abducted from her home in Lange Park, Chaguanas, in December 2006. Although a ransom was paid by her family, she was not released and her body was never found.
In July 2015, Scanny became infamous when he, along co-accused Christopher “Monster” Selby and Hassan Atwell shot their way out of the Port-of-Spain Prison. In their getaway, they murdered PC Sherman Maynard and injured a prison officer. But Scanny’s freedom was short-lived as he killed during a shootout with police at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.