radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Horror gripped shoppers and motorists as five armed men opened fire on three security guards, killing two of them as they left Pennywise Plaza in La Romaine on Monday afternoon.
But within two hours, the four suspected robbers were all shot dead under a house at Pond Street, La Romaine. Police recovered three AR-15s and a pistol believed to have been used in the murders of the guards. One of the robbery suspects remained on the run last night and the police helicopter was called in to assist in the search.
Officers Jeffrey Peters, 51 and Jerry Stewart, 49, worked at Allied Security Services. Peters died instantly after being shot around 5 pm, shortly after he drove out of the Pennywise compound with a large sum of cash. Stewart died on his way to the hospital. A third guard, Peola Baptiste, was shot in the head. She remains warded in critical condition at the San Fernando General Hospital.
Investigators said the guards went to Pennywise Plaza at South Trunk Road to pick up a large sum of cash. They had just exited the compound when the robbers opened fire on them after coming out of a vehicle facing them on the main roadway. The bullets pierced the windows, hitting Jeffrey in the driver's seat. Baptiste and Stewart were also hit and the four bandits snatched two bags filled with cash and got into their waiting getaway vehicle. During the heist, one of the robbers dropped his AR-15 weapon.
Stewart could be seen slumped downwards in the pick-up bleeding profusely, while horrified shoppers and store clerks looked on. The road was littered with spent AR-15 shells.
Insp Ali, from Allied Security Services, arrived a short while later and went past the caution tape. But the police stopped him and spoke to him in another area. Visibly distraught and almost on the brink of tears, Ali stood watching the van where Peters' body lay. The injured officers were rushed by ambulance to the San Fernando General Hospital. Their friends and colleagues prayed at the scene for their recovery.
But by 7 pm, news came that the backseat security officer, Stewart, had succumbed to his gunshot wounds. Baptiste was said to be critical.
Meanwhile, police pursued the bandits for two hours, setting up a dragnet and intercepting vehicles. A Nissan Sylphy believed to have been used in the robbery was found abandoned near the T&T Regiment army base in La Romaine.
A source told police that the bandits subsequently hijacked a white X-trail and went to La Romaine to hide. They took a shortcut through the Junes Development to get to Pond Street, where they attempted to elude capture. But officers, led by Senior Supt Richard Smith, cornered the men under a house at Pond Street. A shootout occurred, during which time all four suspects were shot dead.
Their identities have not yet been confirmed.
Video of the robbery outside Pennywise, the six suspects ditching their first getaway vehicle and the shootout with police on the property soon surfaced on social media.
Last night, a director at Allied Security Services extended condolences to the families of the dead security guards.
"Our hearts and condolences go out to our loved ones. This is the reality. Crime is on the rise, we all have to be extra vigilant," he said.
Speaking about Jeffrey and his team, the director said: "These guys are awesome individuals, but the loss of life is a hard thing to swallow. We want to extend our condolences to the families."
Pennywise also issued a comment last night, saying the La Romaine Plaza would remain closed as a sign of respect so that staff can get some time to focus on their mental health.
"Today, armed bandits attacked three security officers that were driving out of our La Romaine compound. The board of directors, management and staff would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the families of the victims," the statement read.
Last night, acting Police Commissioner Mc Donald Jacob confirmed that four of six robbery suspects were killed. He said the bandits had been tracked using the police grid system.
"Through the grid system, they (police) followed the vehicle which was abandoned. They (suspects) then robbed someone else of their vehicle and entered a house in La Romaine where four of the assailants were killed by the police," Jacob said.
He revealed that three AR-15s and one pistol were recovered from the scene of the crime.
"The matter is an active investigation that is going on in the South," he added.
Anyone with information on the shooting can call Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS.