Police shot and killed three men in separate instances between Wednesday night and yesterday.
In the most recent killing, an off-duty officer shot and killed Leshon Villafana during an attempted robbery of a roulette machine in Arima last evening.
Earlier, officers of the La Horquetta Police Station were on patrol along Cocorite Road, Arima when they responded to a report of a break-in at a bar.
The officers arrived at the scene around 12.30 am and found Nyal Fernandez, 25, and a 32-year-old man, both from Mohagany Trace, Malabar, breaking into New House Side Recreation Club.
Police said the men opened fire on the officers returned fire, killing Fernandez while the other man was arrested unharmed.
In the second incident, officers identified the victim as Tabati Hyland who was wanted for questioning in connection with two murders in the Santa Cruz area.
According to police reports around 7.30 pm officers approached Hyland at Ryan Street, San Juan, when he reportedly opened fire on them. The officers returned fire and Hyland was killed.
Police said Hyland, who lived at La Canoa, Lower Santa Cruz, was linked to the killing of Jason Thomas, of Kingston Avenue, off La Canoa Road, Santa Cruz on September 24. He was also wanted for the murder of Amado Hernandez, 21, of Pipiol Road, Santa Cruz.
Hernandez was killed outside his girlfriend’s home at Sam Boucaud, Santa Cruz on September 18.
The killing of the two men has taken the number of police killings for the year to 37.
Barataria man killed in drive-by
A 27-year-old Barataria man was killed shortly before noon yesterday in a drive-by shooting.
According to police reports, around 11.30 pm Aaron “Son Son” Hillaire was standing along Second Street, Sixth Avenue, Barataria when a car stopped near him and an occupant opened fire before the driver sped off.
Police said Hillaire collapsed in a nearby drain and was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where he was pronounced was dead on arrival.
The murder toll, following Hillaire’s killing, pushed the murder toll to 364 for the year.