Conflicting stories on Jamaican's death in Port of Spain

Homicide investigators are trying to determine whether a Jamaican man's death in downtown Port of Spain early on Tuesday morning was murder or self-defence.

Police said Neil Johnson was playing cards near New City Mall on the Brian Lara Promenade, at around 12.35 am, when a man approached him and shot him once in the chest and three times in the leg.

Johnson ran away but collapsed nearby.

Passersby took him to the Port of Spain General Hospital, where he was treated but died on Wednesday afternoon.

Police said members of the Inter Agency Task Force were on patrol in downtown Port of Spain at the time and arrested a Laventille man after they saw him running away from the scene with a gun.

The man tried to throw the gun away but it was found on Charlotte Street.

Investigators said they were given two stories about the shooting, by Johnson before he died, and by the suspect.

Police said Johnson said the man tried to rob him and he was shot when he tried to defend himself.

But the suspect reportedly told police he went to collect money Johnson owed him for marijuana, but the latter pulled out a gun and tried to shoot him. Police said the man told them he wrestled the gun away from Johnson and shot him in self-defence.

Homicide Investigators are continuing enquiries.