Days after police released one of two suspects held in relation to the attempted murder of a prison officer, the second suspect has died.
According to both police and prison sources, Jessie Belfon, who was thrown out of the getaway car after the shooting, died early this morning.
Belfon is believed to have been the shooter. Police are searching for a third suspect, whom they have already identified. The man was captured walking away calmly after the getaway car crashed.
On Tuesday, the first suspect was released after police said there was insufficient evidence to keep him in custody. Police were hoping to question Belfon, who remained critically injured since his admittance to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex last Friday night.
According to police report, Govindra Balgobin, 38, was ambushed and shot by gunmen who pulled alongside him in a Nissan Wingroad along Orange Grove Road around 8.25 pm on June 20.
Police are working on the theory that the attack was linked to an incident at the Port-of-Spain Prison. Prison officials said a female relative of an inmate at the Maximum Security Prison, where Balgobin is stationed, had an altercation with an officer and her visit was cancelled.
Prison officials say Balgobin lost feeling in his legs and remains warded in a serious condition as he awaits hip replacement surgery because of multiple fractures.
He was shot in the right side arm, torso, hip and upper right side leg.