[UPDATED] Cops need public’s help

POLICE say they need the public’s help if they ever hope to arrest those responsible for the triple murder at Fazal Street in Penal on Sunday. Up to late yesterday, the killers remained at large.

Police have identified the victims as David “Fitz” Critchlow, 35; Maverick Marcano, 38; and Anton Darrel Soodeen, 35, all from Point Fortin.

Shortly after 8 pm, Penal residents heard multiple gunshots and later found the bodied of the three men in a parked silver-coloured Mazda 3 sedan.

The driver, later identified as Soodeen, was slumped on the steering wheel which caused the horn to blare continuously. Critchlow lay dead in the backseat while Marcano was dead in the front seat. Critchlow worked at the Point Fortin Borough Corporation, Soodeen was a PH driver and Marcano, who was recently released from prison, was unemployed.

Minutes after the shooting, residents used cellphones to take photos and also make video recordings of the three men as they lay bleeding in the car.

The photos and video images were quickly uploaded to social media.

Penal police led by head of South Western Division Snr Supt Deonarine Basdeo visited the scene and spoke to several onlookers. Police from the Homicide Investigations Bureau (Region III) including Supt Winchester, ASP Persad and Insp Corrie, also visited the scene.

The triple murder was the latest killings at Fazal Avenue. In February 2018, Monica Gumbs was shot dead at this location. In December 2015, her 57-year-old common-law husband Michael Matthews, also called “Shortman” and “Sprainy”, was shot to death in front of their home as he was returning from a parang lime.

Seven months earlier, in May 2015, Gumbs’ nephew Roger Romain, 35, who lived next door was shot and killed.

Anyone with information on Sunday’s triple murder can contact the Homicide Bureau at 652-0495, the nearest police station or Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith at 482-GARY (4279).

This story was originally published with the title "Victims in triple murder at Penal believed to be from Point Fortin" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE three men shot and killed in a car last night at Penal are believed to be from Point Fortin.

The bodies were taken today to the Forensic Sciences Centre at St James where relatives are expected to confirm the identities.

Police said one may have been recently released from prison, having served a term for a capital offence.

They said shortly after 8 pm on Sunday, residents of Fazal Avenue in Penal heard multiple gunshots and found the motionless men with gunshot wounds in a parked silver Mazda 3 car.

The driver was slumped on the steering wheel which caused the horn to blare continuously.

Minutes after the shooting, residents recorded the men inside the car and circulated videos on social media.

Penal police and head of the South Western Division Snr Supt Deonarine Basdeo visited and searched for the killer/s.

Police from Homicide Bureau Region III among them Supt Winchester, ASP Persad and Insp Corrie, also visited and spoke to several people.

The triple murder was the latest at Fazal Avenue. In February last year, Monica Gumbs was shot and killed. In December 2015, her 57-year-old common Michael Matthews, also called "Shortman" and "Sprainy", was shot to death in front of their home as he was returning from a parang lime.

Seven months earlier, in May 2015, Gumbs’ nephew Roger Romain, 35, who lived next door was shot and killed. Gumbs, in December 2015, had told Newsday that people were wrongly accusing Matthews for the killing.