Four murders in the last 24 hours has jolted the Police Service into action as more anti-crime operations are planned in the coming weeks.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing yesterday public information officer, ASP Michael Pierre, said a special operational team met this week and in the coming weeks police exercises would be done. He called on members of the public to comply and assist the police.
Pierre said that eight of every ten murders were committed with illegal guns and the growing concern for the lawmen was that the guns being seized were sub-machine guns and other high-powered weapons.
The murder toll now stands at 305, surpassing the corresponding figure for last year by five.
Two of the four murders were that of 51-year-old Franklyn Carr and Joun Phillip, 27.
Police said Carr, who would have turned 52 on Republic Day, was shot dead at Nelson Street around 9 pm Wednesday night. Carr, of Second Hamlet Trace, Upper St Barbs, Laventille, was driving a silver Nissan Almera along Nelson Street with two passengers when he was shot as he neared Buildings 16-18.
Speaking with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday his relatives said he started working PH taxi two weeks ago to earn extra money to support his son who recently began attending South East Secondary.
The mason and father of three was described as a cool person who “simmer down” and used to tell all the youths in the area who were inclined to illegal activity to stay far from him.
Six hours earlier, Phillip, of Bazilon Street, El Dorado, was stabbed to death during a fight with a man.
Phillip, a technician with Car Search Ltd was near El Dorado Road when he saw a man who he knew. The two spoke briefly before they began fighting. Phillip was stabbed in the chest and arms before his attacker ran away.
Relatives of Phillip said he was the type of man who would not lime or was aggressive. They said Phillip when he was not at home was at work and that was his life. They said Phillip had been threatened earlier in the day and when he saw the man who threatened him he approached him.
Police say they have no motive for any of the two killings. (JLV)