Gunmen wreaked havoc across Trinidad over a 24-hour period starting at 4 pm on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people. The victims, including two women and seven men under the age of 45, were killed in shootings that occurred in the north, east, and south regions of the country, pushing the year’s murder toll to 315.
In Arima, a three-year-old boy narrowly escaped serious injury during a double murder. The wave of violence began on Friday afternoon on Agostini Street in Belmont, where 29-year-old Hasani Bonas and 19-year-old Jaheim Shallow were gunned down. Bonas and Shallow were reportedly socializing on the street when a convoy of three vehicles—a white panel van, a white Nissan AD Wagon, and a silver Toyota Fielder—arrived. Several men exited the vehicles and opened fire, hitting Bonas and Shallow multiple times. Bonas died at the scene, while Shallow succumbed to his injuries at the Port of Spain General Hospital later that evening. Thirty-two spent 5.56mm shells were recovered from the scene.
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Later that evening, around 8:45 p.m., Jemerc Fonrose, 20, and Kerwin McLeod, 44, were killed in Mango Rose, Laventille. A 66-year-old man was also injured. The victims were socializing on the pavement when a silver Nissan Tiida arrived, and three masked men exited the car and opened fire. Despite being rushed to the Port of Spain General Hospital, Fonrose and McLeod died from their injuries. Eleven spent 9mm shells, 13 spent 7.62mm shells, three spent 5.56mm shells, and one live round of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from the scene.
In Sangre Grande, 36-year-old Shawn Nigel George was shot dead at his Foster Road home around 10 p.m. Relatives heard gunshots and found George lying in a pool of blood with multiple chest wounds. A 62-year-old man was also injured by stray bullets while walking on Foster Road. Ten spent 5.56mm shells were found at the scene.
Early on Saturday morning, at approximately 3:50 am, Dwane Richardson, 35, and his wife Latoya Voisien, 31, were shot dead at their home on Maturita Trace, Arima. Relatives heard gunshots and Richardson’s screams and found him and Voisien shot multiple times. A three-year-old boy in the room at the time sustained minor injuries and was taken to Arima Hospital. Voisien was a student at the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP), and Richardson was a construction worker.
Relatives of the victims expressed their grief and confusion over the senseless violence while also expressing relief that the three-year-old boy was not severely harmed. The spate of killings has left communities in shock and mourning as authorities continue their investigations.
