More than a week after the ambush where one of Central’s reputed gang leaders, Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis was killed, investigators are yet to get a lead as to who was the mastermind behind the murder and who was the “sniper” that killed Alexis and his customer, Kevin Escayg.
Alexis and Escayg were each killed by a single bullet from a high-velocity military assault rifle, believed to be an AR-15. Escayg’s four-year-old son, K’Chaud was also shot and wounded. His mother, Shenelle, when contacted, would only say that the boy is doing well. She declined further comment.
Alexis’ assailant, Thomas “Hamza” Sharpe, was killed by Alexis who shot him six times in the head, once in the neck, one on the left buttock and three on the left leg. All three died at the scene.
Police said they have not been able to locate video footage of the July 17 shooting although Alexis’ 5K Mini Mart and Car Wash is fully equipped with a multi-surveillance camera system inside and outside at strategic points.
At the spot where Alexis, Escayg and Sharpe were killed there are about four cameras fixed at different angles to cover the area from the corner of the Old Southern Main Road, Enterprise, and Freedom Street to several metres along Freedom Street.
Police officers, because they were unable to collected footage from Alexis' business place, are facing a major obstacle in determining what happened that day, details of the suspects involved and who was the scene within seconds of the shooting.
They believe video footage captured from the scene was quickly removed and put in the hands of Alexis loyalists for future revenge.
A police source told the T&T Guardian it was “very strange that such a big crime could happen and just two handguns were recovered, along with spent shells, projectiles, castings and fragments.” The handguns, a Perfecta Luger 9 mm and a Blazer Luger 9mm, belonged to Alexis and Sharpe.
“Someone would have targeted, shot and killed Alexis and Escayg from the car which brought Sharpe to Alexis’ business place, but who? There is no available footage there to help us,” the source said.
Asked about footage from the surveillance cameras, Alexis’ son Kerron admitted there was a digital video recorder (DVR) in the system but said the hard drive was non-functional. He said that a new hard drive was ordered but he is yet to receive it.
Police also questioned the source of funding for gangs operating in Enterprise, Chaguanas, especially the Unruly Isis Gang, since the high-velocity military assault rifles reported to be in their possession cost between $40,000 and $50,000.
“Someone is funding these gangs, maybe through a business or something, even maybe through corrupt police officers and soldiers,” an intelligence source said.
“But, the bigger question is: who and why?”
According to sources, Alexis was well known for being the mastermind behind kidnappings, extortions, robberies, property-snatching and land-grabbing. It is believed he was assisted by police officers, including senior officers, who wanted to make extra money for themselves, “in an underhand and illegal way.”
Over the past week, officers attached to special units were able to do intelligence-gathering at the funerals of Alexis and Sharpe where they photographed, videotaped and listened to several conversations of people via audio-monitoring devices.
They remain hopeful they will be able to utilise this to make arrests soon.
Members of the public who have information or video footage that may be able to assist in the investigations can contact the Chaguanas Police Station, Crime Stoppers or the police hotline at 555.