A reputed Chaguanas gang member was shot dead at his home early yesterday morning. Police said around 3 am, Joshua Williams was with relatives at his Ocean Drive, Goodwill Road, Enterprise home, when they were awakened by knocking on the front door.
Williams, a father of one, got up to check on the disturbance and within minutes his relatives were startled by a volley of gunshots.
When they went outside to check, they found Williams lying at the side of the road with several gunshot wounds. Police believe after being shot, Williams chased after his attacker before collapsing from his injuries.
Williams was pronounced dead at the scene by a District Medical Officer (DMO), who ordered that his body be taken to the Forensic Science Centre in St James, where an autopsy will be performed this morning.
Williams’ killing took the murder toll for the year to 346. Homicide detectives said Williams, who was reportedly a close associate of reputed slain gang leader Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, was well known to police. Alexis, a businessman who had been charged with several high-profile crimes in the past but was never convicted, was shot dead in front of his car wash in Enterprise, Chaguanas, in July.
Investigators believe that both Williams and Alexis’ murders were committed by their rivals in the Unruly Isis gang.
“This is part of the gang war which has been going on down there (Enterprise) over the past year,” a police source told the T&T Guardian yesterday.
The source also revealed that Homicide detectives were also considering whether Williams’ murder was linked to the recent murders of Jeremiah Brown, 18, and 16-year-old Zion Salvary. The teenagers, also allegedly members of the Unruly Isis, were reportedly kidnapped from their homes in Enterprise by rival gang members before being taken to Valencia. Their bodies were found at Wells Trace in Valencia with their hands tied behind their backs and gunshot wounds to their heads.
Central Division Police and the Region Three Homicide Bureau are continuing investigations.
Victim kills bandit
An armed bandit was shot dead after attempting to rob an off-duty security guard early yesterday morning. According to reports, shortly after 5 am the security guard, from Las Lomas, was returning home after completing his shift when he was ambushed by two men while walking along Boy Cato Road.
The men, who were both armed, took his cellphone and wallet and then attempted to run away.
Investigators said the guard, who was dressed in civilian clothing, waited until the men turned their backs before he drew his service pistol and ran after them. The guard managed to shoot one of the robbers while the other managed to escape by running through some thick bushes.
The wounded bandit succumbed to his injuries at the scene and was pronounced dead by a District Medical Officer (DMO). He remained unidentified up to late yesterday.
Investigators allegedly recovered an illegal pistol and revolver on the scene - one next to the deceased gunman and the other which police believe was dropped by his accomplice in the bushes while fleeing the scene.