A man police described once as one of the most wanted men in Trinidad and Tobago and a known gangster was shot and killed by police early this morning following a shootout in the Morvant area.
Investigators have identified the dead man as Nigel "Dufu" Mayers, 40 of Redwood Street, Morvant.
Senior police sources told Guardian Media that a team of officers from the Special Operations Response Team(SORT) went to Mayers home shortly after 6:30 a.m to execute a search warrant.
When the officers arrived they say Mayers who was armed with an AK-47 rifle opened fire on them.
The officers and other people nearby on the road scampered for cover. Police later returned fire injuring Mayers.
When police advanced on the wounded man they found a hand grenade still clutched in his hand.
Mayers was rushed to the Port of Spain General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead on arrival.
The Bomb Squad was called in to sweep for other explosive devices in and around Mayers home.
Mayers and several other men were freed last year of killing shopkeeper Shirley Thomas on November 9, 2010.
The exercise was coordinated by Snr Supt Phillip of the North Eastern Division and DCP Jayson Forde and also included Sgt Mark Hernandez of SORT and Sgt Metivier.
More on this story as it develops
Reporter: Mark Basant