By FRANCIS JOSEPH
A murder accused awaiting trial, who escaped from the Arima General Hospital in July, was shot and killed by Police at Vistabella on Friday.
According to police reports, an operation was conducted between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Friday which resulted in the fatal shooting of escaped prisoner Robby Khadoo and the arrest of a woman for harbouring the escaped prisoner.
Khadoo, who had been charged with Murder, Attempted Murder, and Wounding with Intent, escaped lawful custody at the Arima General Hospital on July 3.
Officers of the Home Invasion Team (HIT), the Southern Divisional Task Force (SDTF) and the Marabella Police Station, went to a location at Fabien Street, Vistabella. While searching the premises, officers encountered Khadoo who was armed with a firearm and who refused to obey orders to drop the weapon. According to reports, Khadoo chose instead to engage the officers.
In accordance with the TTPS Use of Force Policy, officers discharged their firearms, injuring Khadoo, who was transported to the San Fernando General Hospital and later pronounced dead. A .22 calibre revolver loaded with three rounds of ammunition was recovered at the scene, which was processed by the Divisional Crime Scene Investigation Unit. One woman who was in the house, was arrested and remains in custody pending inquiries into harbouring an escaped prisoner. No officers were injured during the operation.
Khadoo escaped from lawful custody at about 7.15 p.m. on July 3, while receiving medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of the Arima Health Facility.
He was before the courts on charges of murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent. His last known address is Naparima- Mayaro Road, Iere Village, Princes Town.
Together with three others, Khadoo was committed to stand trial at the end of the preliminary inquiry before Senior Magistrate Indira Misir-Gosine in the Princes Town Magistrates’ Court on March 29, 2024.
Khadoo was accused of the murder of Jeremy Guerra and the attempted murder of his then 20-year-old friend Tia James.
Guerra and James were at his Iere Village Main Road, Princes Town home around 10.30 pm on January 18, 2016, when he was called outside by a group of men. Shots were fired and Guerra was killed and James wounded.
Following Khadoo’s killing, Commissioner of Police, Allister Guevarro, commended the officers for their disciplined execution of a high‑risk operation, noting that their actions reflect the continued importance of intelligence‑led policing, coordinated planning, and inter‑unit collaboration in addressing violent offenders.
He further warned members of the public that assisting fugitives is a criminal offence that places communities at risk and will be met with firm law enforcement action.
