Police officer shot dead

UPDATED:

Richard Babwah, a 31-year-old police constable and father, whose lifelong dream was to protect and serve his fellow citizens, is dead after he attempted to thwart a robbery at a Chinese restaurant on Eastern Main Road, Arouca.

One of the bandits who killed him was later shot dead and another injured after their escape vehicle was intercepted by police officers in Maloney.

Family members at the scene of the crime called him a hero.

"All his life he wanted to be a police officer" said a relative "We are not sure what happened in there as yet, but no matter the end of the circumstance, he was a hero, he was a hero to his service and hero to his children."

According to reports, at about 6 pm, Babwah was at the Long Yuan Chinese restaurant eating a meal when three armed men entered the restaurant and announced a robbery.

Babwah drew his service pistol and challenged the bandits, but in the exchange of gunfire which ensued Babwah was shot dead.

As he slumped to the ground, the gunmen ran out of the restaurant and escaped in a red Nissan Almera.

Police were alerted and the locked down all exit points in the area. Within a matter of minutes police intercepted the car occupied by two men.

The gunmen once again tried to shoot their way out of the situation but they were shot multiple times. One bandit died, while the other was injured and currently undergoing treatment at hospital. The third is still at large.

Relatives of the fallen police officer were at the scene of the crime, consoling each other, while looking on at police as they cordoned off and processed the scene.

Family members told Newsday that Babwah was a family oriented man.