Security supervisor Max Martin should have been spending yesterday at home with his family, but reported for duty to fill in for an ill colleague and was shot dead by bandits.
Although police believe Martin, 46, of Roy Joseph Settlement, San Fernando, was shot dead during a robbery at H.B Rentals along Cedar Hill Road, Claxton Bay, his family believes it was a hit on his life.
Police said that around 1.50 am, the father of five and another officer were at the car rental company when two men stormed into the compound and held them up.
Martin and the officer were tied up with duct tape while the men rummaged through the compound.
However, Martin broke free, attempted to escape and was shot twice in the head. The men escaped with only a cellphone. Couva police responded and Martin was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he died while undergoing emergency treatment.
At his home yesterday, his sister Joan said his heart stopped and doctors gave him CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) twice.
However, when it failed the third time, a doctor came out of the theatre and informed the family that he had not survived his wounds.
According to his mother, Manelva, he left home a little before 6 pm, Thursday, and was late for work, but he was in good spirits. The next time she saw him, he was bleeding from head wounds in the hospital.
She said, “The young man who worked with him that night said there was nothing in that place to thief. The fella said it appeared to be a hit. I feel it was a hit.”
The family believes the killing may be linked to a recent work dispute.
A relative said Martin finished work on Thursday morning and yesterday was supposed to be his day off. However, his colleague fell ill while heading to work, went to the hospital and his boss called and told him to cover for the officer.
The relative said Martin did not have a gun and believed if he had one it would have saved his life.
The Homicide Region III Bureau is carrying out investigations.