Laventille man killed in shootout with police

Even as public concern continues to grow over the number of police-involved killings that have occurred since the State of Emergency (SoE) began on July 18, yet another man was killed by officers yesterday.

In the latest incident, a man identified only as Sharky was killed in an alleged shootout with police outside a house at Mc Shine Lands, Laventille, around 10.30 am. A second man who was also shot during the incident remained in critical condition at hospital last evening.

Police said the suspects, who were armed with firearms, confronted officers after being called upon to surrender. Officers said they responded, hitting the men, who were subsequently taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where one was pronounced dead.

Police said four illegal firearms, one Sig Rifle and three pistols, were recovered from the scene, which were processed by Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs).

The incident brought the number of police-involved shootings to seven since the start of the SoE—with seven victims. The total number of extra-judicial shootings for the year moved to 38, with 46 victims.

While the area remained deathly quiet in the hours after the shooting yesterday, residents voiced their displeasure with the expanded scope of powers that police officers and soldiers were currently enjoying under the SoE.

One woman, who did not want to be identified, said, “Police can come in your place and do what they want without restrictions or anything like that. But apparently this wasn’t a come in place but a group outside liming.”

She claimed, “I see them coming with he body and I hear some others saying he was begging for his life and police still shoot him.”

Gesturing to the house where the shooting occurred, which was metres from her modest home at 42nd Street, the single mother said yesterday’s shooting was the last straw for her.

“I feeling to go HDC and ask for some help to move outta here,” she said, choking back tears.

She said it was dangerous for her children to be outside playing, as anything could happen.

Asked about the shooting, she said, “The police came, they ask some questions and they proceed to go up the road. We didn’t hear anything … we just hear gunshots. After that, we just hear people bawling and cursing.”

Admitting she knew the deceased from the area and that he was always cool, she added, “I don’t know him to be in no trouble with anyone.”

Pointing out that she had just enough time to urge her children to get down on the floor as the gunfire rang out, she said, “I did the same … I got down and laid on the floor as best as I could and now come outside to breeze.”

A man, who refused to identify himself, said, “I just ask meh bredrins to come and look for meh, and they end up in a position so I just want them to go back home safe.”

Two other men refused to speak although they were present during the incident.

Another woman remained teary-eyed as she related, “Sharky came to check me and he was taking a smoke outside when everything happened. He didn’t have nothing on him.”

The scared young woman said Sharky had been concerned about her welfare following two shootings in the area over the weekend, which had left one man dead.

Clinton “Bunty” Simmons, 50, of Mc Shine Lands, Laventille, was shot and killed on August 1, near the Desperados Panyard, in what police believe was a gang-related execution. This was followed by another shooting on August 2.

These two incidents, the woman claimed, had managed to drive her out of the area and she only returned yesterday to organise and pack her belongings to leave.

She too maintained, “Police just killed him … he wasn’t doing nothing. He had come to check me cause he was concerned … they kill him.”

Contacted yesterday, Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West would only say, “PCA is investigating the matter.”

He declined further comment when asked if the PCA had spoken to the Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro or any other senior official from the T&T Police Service (TTPS) regarding the number of police-involved shootings that have occurred since the SoE went into effect.

In the early days of the SoE, the PCA head had called on police officers to act within legal parameters, saying, “In the five days since the State of Emergency has commenced, there have been five incidents of police-involved fatal shootings. The PCA is actively monitoring these occurrences and is committed to thoroughly investigating each incident, in accordance with its legislative mandate.”

He assured, “The PCA remains steadfast in its role as an independent oversight body and continues to call for accountability, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law in all police interactions with members of the public; particularly in periods of heightened security operations.”

Guevarro later challenged the PCA over its silence when the 2024 murder toll reached a record high at 625—even as he assured his priority remained the protection of law-abiding citizens.