By FRANCIS JOSEPH
Two men suspected to be members of a group who killed a police officer two months ago, were shot and killed by police in Maloney early on Thursday morning.
The dead persons were identified as Tyreek De Coteau and Shakeel Martin. Both were taken to the Arima General Hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
Police reportedly seized three firearms at the scene. This brings to four the number of persons killed over that incident.
The operation was spearheaded by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, and involved members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
The deaths follow the fatal shooting of PC Romel Douglas, 48. The officer was shot and killed during an attempted robbery in Kelly Village, Caroni, on July 28.
Douglas, who was attached to the Four Roads Police Station, was off duty and sitting in a car at the corner of Hydraulic Trace and Caroni South Bank Road, Kelly Village, at about 11.05 p.m. when a white Nissan Tiida pulled alongside his vehicle.
According to police reports, the occupants of the Tiida attempted to rob Douglas.
An exchange of gunfire followed and Douglas was shot.
First responders found him dead in the vehicle at about 11.15 p.m., with gunshot wounds about his body. His licensed firearm was also allegedly taken during the incident.
One of the bandits, Adetola Ammon, 19, of Arima, was also shot and killed during the incident. The Nissan Tiida was later found abandoned. A manhunt was subsequently launched for the remaining suspects.
On August 12, Hassan “H-Man” Johnson, 18, another man wanted in connection with PC Douglas’ killing, was shot dead during a confrontation with police at his girlfriend’s home in Matura.
Police had received information that Johnson was hiding at the two-bedroom house at the seven-and-three-quarter-mile mark, Main Road, Mora Trace, Matura.
Police said that when officers entered through a door on the eastern side, Johnson opened fire at them. The officers returned fire, striking him several times.
Johnson was taken to Sangre Grande General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 11.55 p.m.
Johnson was believed to have been staying away from his home in Second Street, Printeryville, Arima, since Douglas’ killing.
