RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
A hooded gunman stormed into a minimart at La Romaine on Friday and shot two men dead before jumping through a window, making a successful escape.
Children who were playing in the yard of the minimart ran for cover as over 17 bullets were fired from a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
Their mother, Dianne Soorjedeen of 28 Stella Street, La Romaine who owns Dianne’s Mini Mart quickly brought them to safety.
When the gunfire cleared, Jeremiah Joseph, 37, alias Tears of Bay View, La Romaine and Julian Baptiste, 31, of Anthony Street, La Romaine were both dead.
Soorjedeen told police she was in the yard with her children around 10:36 pm when the gunshots rang out.
Police said Joseph and Baptiste had been liming with friends in a room located on the northern side of the mini-mart when the gunman walked in.
He wore a dark blue hoodie pulled over his face.
He pointed the gun and emptied the bullets hitting Jeremiah multiple times about the body and Joseph on his abdomen and chest.
The killer then fled through a window on the northern side. The children and other limers were not harmed.
A party of officers led by Asp Jaikaran, Insp Phillip, Sgt Boodoo, Sgt Ramsahai, PC Ali, WPC La Rode and PC Ramsoobag of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region Three visited the scene.
District Medical Officer Dr Chamaiah visited the scene and ordered the bodies removed to the San Fernando General Hospital Mortuary pending post mortems at the Forensics Science Centre St James.
Seventeen 9mm spent shells were found along with one bullet fragment.
Investigations are continuing.
