One man is in police custody following the shooting of an off-duty police officer on Thursday night, while police were still searching for two other men in relation to the incident up to last night.
According to police reports, Sgt Ricardo Morris, who is attached to the Belmont Police Station, was at a basketball court at Pioneer Drive, Sea Lots, around 9.30 pm with his son, when he saw a man walking with a high-powered weapon.
Police said Morris, who lives in Central Trinidad, spoke with the gunman and the men began fighting.
During the struggle two other men jumped in to aid the gunman, who had a loaded AR15 rifle. One of the men took the gun and shot Morris twice, in the left hip and left forearm. The trio then ran off with the gun.
Officers from the Guard and Emergency Branch, who were on patrol in the area, took Morris to the hospital where he was treated and warded in a stable condition last night. Officers later returned to the scene where they apprehended one man. Police visited the area yesterday and conducted searches of several homes but did not find any suspects.
Morris’ shooting came two days after another off-duty police officer was ambushed, shot and killed, as well as the murder of a regiment officer at his home.
Constable Jason John died on his way to his girlfriend’s Five Rivers, Arouca, home while the regiment officer, Jerry Leacock, was killed at his Wallerfield home. John was last attached to the Court and Process Branch and is tentatively scheduled to be buried on Tuesday, while Leacock was buried yesterday. (See page A6)