Trinidad's Police Commissioner Condemns ‘Senseless' Killings

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Police Commissioner, Erla Harewood-Christopher, has condemned the ‘senseless” killings of four people during a shooting incident in the Cocorite district, west of here, over the weekend.

Police Commissioner, Erla Harewood-Christopher, speaking with residents of cocorite following the murders (TTPS Photo)The top cop has given  the assurance that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) will pursue all investigative leads with “a view to bringing the perpetrators of this incident to justice in the shortest possible time”.

Police said that four people were killed and eight others wounded following a shooting incident which occurred on Saturday night.

The police said that the 12 people were gathered on the eastern side of a  building near mid-night, when a dark coloured motor vehicle approached them.

“It is alleged that two armed men then exited the vehicle and opened fire on the group before returning to the vehicle and escaping. The eight wounded victims, ages 19 to 39, all of the area, were taken to the St. James Medical Centre for treatment and then transferred to another institution,” the police statement said.

It listed those killed as 36-year-old Jonathan Osmond, who died at the scene, while Shaquille Ottley, 22, and Antonio Jack, 57, were pronounced dead at hospital. Sadiki Ottley, 31, died while undergoing treatment.

The statement said that the Police Commissioner, in response to the incident, immediately summoned a high-powered meeting and that the team has since visited the scene of the murders.

“CoP Christopher has condemned the latest act of violence which she describes as ‘senseless’ and …and members of the Executive of the TTPS have also extended their deepest condolences to the families of those who died in the incident and wish the injured victims a speedy recovery”.

This is the second mass shootings here within a two month month. On March 16, gunmen shot and killed five people in East Port of Spain after they drove into drove onto the Harpe Place compound and fired upon on residents before driving off.

No one has been arrested in relation to that crime.

So far this year more than 200 people have been murdered in Trinidad and Tobago. Last year, the country recorded 575 murders.