[UPDATED] Sandman’s cousin shot dead

GUNMEN yesterday recreated a murder scene from two years ago as they ambushed and killed the cousin of murdered fisherman and reputed gang leader Vaugh­an ‘Sand­man’ Mieres.

According to police, Dillon “Mission” Mieres along with his wife Mary Reyes were in their white Toyota Corolla on El Luengo Road, Maracas, St Joseph when a white Nissan Wingroad slammed into them and gunmen opened fire. Mieres died at the scene while Reyes was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope where she remains warded in a serious condition. The gunmen abandoned the vehicle and escaped into the the hills.

The murder is a carbon copy of another fatal ambush also in Maracas, St Joseph in January 2017. In that killing, Ker­lan “Mice­man” George and Shameel “Kaz­im” Ali were ambushed as they left the Maracas/St Joseph Police Station. Police reported then that the Toyota Hilux the men were in was rammed by a car causing the pickup to flip. Gunmen from the car and a second car behind the pickup opened fire on the overturned pickup killing both men. The gunmen also ran into the hills and escaped. Police at that time linked the double murder to a gang war between Vaughan Mieres and George. George was said to be senior member of the Rasta City gang which reportedly controlled the Maracas, St Joseph area.

Vaughan 46, his wife Alita Dehere, 50, Nigel Octave, 36 – all of Las Cuevas – and Kadir Joseph, 25, of San Juan were killed in an early-morning ambush at Vaughan’s home on July 25. Durelle “Shorto” Raymond was arrested on July 29, four days after the killings and charged with the murders.

The murder yesterday had an impact on a wedding that was due to take place at La Soledad Estate for 3 pm. The wedding party was delayed on the road as investigators processed the crime scene which was cleared sometime after 5 pm.

Two unidentified men murdered

In two other shootings, two unidentified men were found murdered in the Port of Spain Division between Friday night and yesterday morning.

Police reported that around 2.30 pm yesterday a man of mixed heritage was found near a track off Eastern Main Road, Laventille, near the dilapidated site of the Citrus Growers Association. Police said residents heard gunshots earlier in the day and later found the man who wore a black long sleeved jersey, brown three-quarter pants and black rubber slippers. Police suspect him to be in his twenties.

In the second killing, a man was found shot dead at Rose Hill, East Dry River, Port of Spain. Police reported that at about 7.40 pm on Friday, officers went to Mosley Place, East Dry River where they found the man of African descent on the side of the road. He wore a blue bandana on his head, a white vest and white three-quarter pants. He was shot several times, police said.

Freeport man killed opposite police station

The brazenness of killers remained unmatched after a man was killed opposite the Freeport Police Station last night.

According to police reports, Hardath Solomon, 42, of Mission Road, Freeport, was ambushed and shot dead, at about 7 pm, after he left the police station where he went to report his presence as part of a bail condition.

Solomon was opposite the station when he was shot and collapsed in front of a parlour. Police said a Nissan Tiida was seen speeding off.

Solomon was out on bail for the the 2017 robbery of First Citizens bank where $3 million was stolen. He was accused of using a blowtorch cut a hole to gain entry into the Montrose branch of the bank and made off with $3,000,030 on September 23, that year.

None of the money was ever recovered.

This story was originally published with the title "Sandman's cousin shot dead, wife injured in ambush" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

The cousin of murdered fisherman and suspected gang leader Vaugh­an 'Sand­man' Mieres has been shot dead. Dillon "Mission" Mieres died on Saturday afternoon when gunman opened fire on him and his wife Mary Reyes, who has been warded at hospital at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope.

Police report Mieres and Reyes were in a white car on Lleungo Village, Maracas, St Joseph when a white Nissan wagon slammed into them. The two were shot at and Mires died at the scene while Reyes was injured and taken to the hospital where she is in a serious but stable condition. The gunmen abandoned their car, escaping into the hills. The couple lived at Maracas, St Joseph.

A wedding party on the way to La Soledad Estate had to wait for clearance to pass as the area was cordoned off as a crime scene.

The attack took place a month after Vaughan Mieres, 46, his wife Alita Dehere, 50, Nigel Octave, 36 – all of Las Cuevas – and Kadir Joseph, 25, of San Juan were killed in an early-morning ambush at Vaughan’s home on July 25. Durelle “Shorto” Raymond was arrested on July 29, four days after the killings and charged with the murders.