Police yesterday arrested 12 people in connection with the murders of regiment officer Jerry Leacock and Police Constable Jason John on Tuesday.
Of the 12, nine were held for questioning in relation to Leacock’s murder, including two teenagers, while the others were held in the cop’s death. The men were held in the Arouca, Arima and Wallerfield areas on Tuesday night, following joint exercises by both police and regiment officers.
Leacock, 42, who served in the TT Defence Force for 17 years, was at his home taking a shower when four gunmen forced their way in, demanded cash and shot him when he came out before taking his Nissan Versa. The shooting took place around 5 am.
According to police reports, John was walking towards his girlfriend’s home at William Trace, Five Rivers, Arouca, around 12.30 am when he was approached and shot.
His girlfriend, who was on the phone with him at the time, heard the gunshot and raced outside to find the bleeding officer on the ground.
He was taken to the Arima Health Facility where he died. John was in the Police Service for only seven months and was attached to the Court and Process Branch.