[UPDATED] 2 men, woman killed in three shootings

Two men and a woman were killed in separate shootings between Friday and Saturday. One of the murders occurred in Tobago.

The latest took place late Saturday afternoon, when a 45-year-old man got shot when he went to do a job in Belmont.

According to police, Kevin Danglade, of San Francois Valley Road, and two men went to an area in Belmont, known as Beecham Coco, when they were attacked. They received a call about 2.30 pm for a job for them to do and drove to the location.

One of the men was negotiating the payment for the job. As he turned to get a receipt book from the car, driven by Danglade, a gunman opened fire on all three.

Danglade was shot and died in driver's seat. The negotiator was shot in the back while the third man escaped uninjured. No motive was given for the attack.

The injured man was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where he is warded.

And early on Saturday morning, a 21-year-old man became Tobago’s tenth murder victim.

He has been identified as Omari Matthews, of Mt Hay, Black Rock.

Police said around 1.30 am on Saturday, Matthews, his cousin and another man were liming along the road at Courland Bush Trace, Black Rock, when he got into an argument with two men.

The two men got into a car shortly afterwards. Matthews reportedly followed them and as he approached the car the men fired several gunshots at him.

He slumped to the ground and the men sped off in the car.

Matthews was rushed to the Scarborough General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Two people are assisting police with the investigation, which is being carried out by officers of the Homicide Division.

Responding to the killing, People’s National Movement (PNM) prospective candidate for the Black Rock/Whim/Spring Garden electoral district in the upcoming THA election, Kelvon Morris, urged community leaders to devise strategies to prevent violence on the island.

“We need to work collectively to help stop the violence,” he said in a statement on Saturday issued through the PNM Tobago Council.

In extending condolences to Matthews’ family and friends, Morris said violence is unnecessary.

“Whenever there is a loss of life through violence, it is always sad and emotions run high.”

Noting the impact of the killing will be felt throughout the community and country, he urged the public to respect the family’s privacy during their period of mourning.

“We all hurt when a senseless act like this happens. No one gains from it. The pain goes on. Our communities can and mist do better. We all have to look out for each-other,” Morris said in the statement.

And on Friday afternoon, a 31-year-old woman was shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Trou Macaque, Laventille.

Police said Latoya Hughes, of Pump Trace, was about to get into her Kia Rio car on Trou Macaque Road, near Hitler Trace, at about 4.50 pm when a car pulled alongside hers. A man in the car fired several shots at her before driving away.

Hughes ran into a nearby compound where she collapsed and died. Members of the Inter Agency Task Force who were in the area and were alerted to the shooting, went to the scene where they found Hughes' body.

The body was later removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for autopsy next Monday. Investigators from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region I are continuing enquiries. On Friday, police said as of November 13 there were 356 murders compared to 458 for the corresponding period last year. Last week, there were at least seven murders in Trinidad.

* Reporters Jensen La Vende and Shane Superville contributed to this story.

This story was originally published with the title "Black Rock man shot dead during a fight" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A 21-year-old man is Tobago’s tenth murder victim for 2020. He has been identified as Omari Matthews, of Mt Hay, Black Rock.

Police said around 1.30 am on Saturday, Matthews, his cousin and another man were liming at Courland Bush Trace, Black Rock, when he got into an argument with another man. A fight ensued and Matthews was shot. He was rushed to the Scarborough General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Two people are assisting police with the investigation, which is being carried out by officers of the Homicide Division.