By FRANCIS JOSEPH
A teenager wanted for the murder of PC Rommel Douglas, was shot and killed by police on Tuesday night.
Hassan Johnson, 19, also known as “H Man”, of Second Street, Printeryville, Arima, was shot during the confrontation with police at the 7¾ Mile Mark, Mora Trace, Matura.
According to reports, police officers from several specialized units got a tip-off and went to Matura shortly after 11 pm.
The operation reportedly involved officers from the DCP Operations Team, Home Invasion Team (HIT), Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Western Division Gang Unit, Northern North CID and South-Western Division Gang Unit, along with members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.
They spotted Johnson at the Mora Trace Junction. On seeing the police, Johnson ran into a forested area. He was finally cornered at a house. The police called out to Johnson. Instead of coming out peacefully, Johnson allegedly fired a shot at the officers, prompting them to return fire.
Johnson was shot during the exchange and taken to Sangre Grande General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 11.55 p.m. Police recovered a loaded Glock-26 semi-automatic pistol during the operation.
Johnson’s death came 14 days after PC Douglas was shot dead while sitting in his vehicle at Kelly Village, Caroni.
Douglas, 48, who was last assigned to the Four Roads Police Station, was killed shortly after 11 p.m. on July 28 while seated in his white Nissan Tiida at the corner of Hydraulic Trace and Caroni South Bank Road.
Police said at the time that another white Nissan Tiida had pulled alongside Douglas’ vehicle and that its occupants allegedly attempted to rob him.
An exchange of gunfire followed, during which Douglas sustained multiple gunshot wounds. His licensed firearm was also taken.
Adetola Ammon, 19, of Arima, was shot by PC Douglas during the attempted robbery. He was taken to the Arima General Hospital by his two accomplices. But he later died at hospital.
Police went in search of two other men believed to have been involved in the attack.
The vehicle used by the suspects was later found abandoned in Maloney.
CCTV footage obtained during the investigation was also said to have captured the moments before and after the attack, including the suspects approaching Douglas’ vehicle and the wounded Ammon being placed into the getaway car.
A third suspect in the killing of Douglas remains on the run from law enforcement. Police are aware of the identity of the third suspect.
