A police operation in Cunupia ended in tragedy yesterday when officers shot and killed a father and son while attempting to arrest one of them.
The deceased have been identified as 52-year-old Alvin Daniel and his 28-year-old son, Avindra Daniel Bharath, also known as “Indian” and “Bobo.” According to police, Bharath was wanted for extortion.
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Around 5:00 a.m., a team of officers went to an apartment above the Community Bible Church on Persad Avenue, off Mon Plasir Road, where the family lived. Police said they identified themselves and began breaching the doors when they reportedly came under gunfire from inside the apartment.
Officers returned fire, striking both Daniel and Bharath. The men were taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility, where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Police later reported recovering three firearms from the scene.
When the Express visited the location, shattered glass, bloodstains, and bullet holes were visible around the entrance of the apartment, which shares a building with the church.
A nearby resident told reporters he was awakened by the commotion. “I came outside after hearing the police, but they told me, ‘Go back inside,’” he said, adding that “a couple of shots rang out.” He described the father and son as polite and quiet neighbors who had lived there for about four years.
The pastor of the church, who rented out the apartment during the COVID-19 pandemic, said he was unaware of any illegal activity. “It is just a sad occurrence, actually,” he said.
According to police statistics, 59 people have been killed by officers so far in 2025, compared to 54 in 2024, continuing a worrying upward trend in fatal police encounters.
