The man shot and killed during a shootout with police officers and bandits in a robbery at Pharry Hardware at Pharry Village, Toco Main Road on Saturday, has been identified as Wendell Jeremey also called “Ratty” of Pinto Road, Arima.
Police said he was one of the suspects detained for the murders of Haffiza Rose Mohammed, 56, and 13-year-old Videsh Subar, at Ajim Baksh Trace, Malabar, Arima on June 27.
The other two bandits in the robbery— ages 26 and 28 who surrendered to police by kneeling down with their hands upraised— are from Maturita, Arima.
They remained in police custody up to late yesterday.
They are to be charged with possession of firearm and ammunition, shooting with intent, shooting to endanger lives, discharging a firearm within 100 metres of a roadway, several counts of robbery with violence ,and larceny of cellphones.
Police officers said Jeremey was well known by them as he had several court cases pending for gun related offences.
On Saturday, police officers attached to Sangre Grande Task Force were returning from duty at Toco in a black unmarked vehicle when they observed three men placing bandanna on their heads and heading towards the hardware.
The police responded to the hardware but were reportedly shot at by the bandits who had already robbed the owner of the establishment of an undisclosed amount of cash which represented the day’s sale. Employees were also robbed of cellphones and cash. The police returned fire and in the process one of the bandits was found dead on Seecharan Trace with gunshots wounds.
The two other bandits ran into the Pharry Village. They eventually surrendered.