Rhondor Dowlat
In the aftermath of the murder of Central businessman Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, 51, there are now heightened police and army patrols throughout Enterprise, Chaguanas, and environs in a bid to keep the peace and prevent feared reprisal killings.
The T&T Guardian was told that police patrols were scheduled for every street, track and lane in the Enterprise area—from Crown Trace, to Walter Lane, to Bhagalloo, to Freedom and Enterprise Streets.
Several houses were also searched and about eight people taken into police custody for questioning yesterday. The imam of the Crown Trace Mosque was also detained by police, but it was unclear on what grounds he was taken into police custody.
Investigating officers admitted yesterday that no arms or ammunition were found during the searches of homes and compounds.
It was also confirmed yesterday that no “foreign” arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene of the crime, despite the fact that three people were killed by more than one type of gun. It is said that Alexis was killed from the bullet of an AR15, which is a high-powered assault rifle.
On Sunday night, at the scene where Alexis was ambushed and killed along with his customer Kevin Escayg, of San Juan, and an assailant later identified as Thomas “Hamza” Sharpe, there were several teams of police officers from the Central Division, including the Task Force Unit, keeping a close watch on the activity.
Scores of relatives, residents and curious onlookers were seen standing along the main road and in front of Alexis' supermarket, 5K Mini Mart, for over eight hours, looking on as police officers from the Crime Scene Investigations Unit processed the scene.
The bodies were also only removed at about 12.40 am, which relatives described as “total disrespect.” Some felt as though the officers were callous to keep the bodies on the ground for over eight hours. After the bodies were removed, family and close friends dispersed.
The only vehicles seen throughout the rest of the night were unmarked and marked police vehicles that were conducting patrols in the area. No one was seen walking the streets and/or liming on the blocks, not even along some of the busiest streets in the area, including Freedom, Crown Trace, Walter Lane and Bhagalloo Streets.
As the day broke yesterday, the police patrols continued. In the morning period there was also aerial surveillance done by the National Operations Centre.
During a drive through Crown Trace yesterday, there were very few people seen out and about.
According to reports, Alexis, Scott and Escayg were standing in the yard of the carwash when a man, later identified as Sharpe, came onto the compound talking to Alexis. Sharpe was wearing a black wig and at some stage Alexis realised he knew him and said so. At this stage, however, a silver grey Almera stopped near them and its occupants opened fire.
Alexis, Scott and Escayg were shot several times before Alexis managed to draw a gun and shoot Sharpe before also getting off some shots at his attackers. The other gunmen eventually shot the trio several more times before they returned to the vehicle and drove away, leaving behind their wounded accomplice.