JOEL JULIEN
It was a bloody Black Friday (Friday 13) with four murders, one police killing and a fatal road traffic accident all taking place over a three-hour period across the country. The son of a deceased “Laventille Don” and a robber were among those who were shot dead in separate incidents on Friday night.
The bloodshed began around 8.30 pm when two armed robbers attempted to rob a Chinese restaurant at Bamboo Settlement No 2, Valsayn. The robbery was, however, thwarted by an off-duty policeman who was inside the restaurant at the time. According to reports, the two men entered the restaurant and inquired if the roulette machine there was working.
When the men were told that the gambling machine was not functioning they pulled out their guns. An off-duty policeman from the Morvant Crime Suppression Unit was buying food at the time. The policeman took out his service revolver and shot one of the robbers dead. The other robber then surrendered.
The dead man was identified as 25-year-old Simon Cummings. The second robber is currently in police custody. Two firearms were recovered at the scene.
Around 8.50 pm in Chaguanas the first murder of the night was recorded. According to reports, officers of the Chaguanas Hot Spot Patrol were responding to the report of a shooting incident when they discovered a man lying in a pool of blood on a pavement at the corner of Crown Trace and Circular Drive, Enterprise.
The deceased was identified as Ryan Derron Hercules, 39, of 11 Circular Drive, Enterprise. Hercules is Mark Guerra’s son. Guerra, a former top-ranking official of the Jamaat al-Muslimeen, was gunned down at his farm in Wallerfield on March 23, 2005.
Guerra, also known as Abdul Jaleel, lived in a mansion in John John, Laventille, and was considered the area’s “Don.” PC Chinapoo of Homicide Region III is continuing investigations into Hercules’ killing. Around 10 pm, a double murder occurred in Couva.
Meanwhile, best friends Jakan Lezama, 22, and Abdiel John, 31, were shot at Lisas Boulevard in Couva. Around 10.30 pm a road traffic accident occurred on the Uriah Butler Highway.
Kathy Ann John, the front seat passenger, died on the scene. The driver David Changwai and the four back-seat passengers were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope for treatment. Around 11.15 pm, Marvin Bascombe, 29, was shot dead near the Merrytones Steel Orchestra’s panyard in Diego Martin.
Bascombe lived on Bagatelle Road in Diego Martin, next door to the panyard. According to reports, Bascombe was liming with a group of friends near the panyard when several gunshots were heard. Bascombe died at the scene.
Officers of the Western Division said Bascombe was known to them. Homicide Region I detectives are continuing investigations.