Woman killed as homeowner fights bandits – 3 dead in Westmoorings shootout

Residents of Cherry Crescent, Westmoorings, are in mourning after a home invasion ended with the death of one of their neighbours and the deaths of two suspected bandits.

Police said Nicole Moses, 49, was at her home at around 8.15 am when two bandits jumped over the front wall.

She and her mother who was also at home called for help and a male relative who is the owner of a licensed gun confronted the bandits, who shot at him.

The relative shot and killed both bandits, but Moses died during the shooting. Relatives took Moses to the St James Infirmary, where she was declared dead.

Sources said there were several older relatives in the house at the time of the incident.

Newsday visited the neighbourhood shortly after police got to the scene. The bodies of two men were still at the house.

They were later identified as 21-year-old Jahmali Haywood of Second Caledonia, Morvant and 24-year-old Joshua Blackman from Upper Erica Street, Laventille. A district medical officer visited and declared both men dead.

Police found and seized the gun used by the bandits.

Moses' relatives who gathered outside the home were heard crying loudly as they consoled each other and spoke with homicide detectives. One older woman had to be helped by relatives into a nearby house where she could collect herself.

Relatives at the scene declined to speak with reporters but one neighbour recalled hearing gunshots while outside his house earlier that morning.

"I stand up right here by my property and the wackermen were here, because I reminded them they had to cut my lawn too, so while I'm talking with them they said they saw three men jump over a wall nearby.

"About less than a minute after he told me that, I heard some gunshots.

"I told them to duck while I ran inside.

"My mom is 90 years old. She was reading the newspaper in the gallery, so I told her to go inside, don't stand up out here.

"It was as if the shots was in my own gallery because of how loud they were.

"Not long after, I heard about two women just bawling. When the shots died down I looked around but I didn't want to get too close in case the gunmen were still around."

The man said the incident was traumatising as the attack happened without warning but said he was happy one of Moses' relatives was able to defend them  from the bandits, saying guns were now a necessity.

"Of course I'm afraid for my safety. You have to lock every door when you're in your house. Even if you're outside in the gallery you need to lock that door.

"I think some people are being targeted for whatever reason, I don't know. In this area here people are being targeted.

"I think they should arm everybody. If the bandits are coming at random to take you out... they're not even looking to see who is in the house, if the people inside are elderly, but they just coming to kill you? That's western thing."

Newsday visited Erica Street, Laventille, where Blackman lived, and spoke with two residents, who said they knew him but did not have much to do with him.

"He was always respectful to me., I don't know about anyone else. But I knew he was involved in some things at the side. That's the most I could say about him," one said.

Speaking with Newsday by phone, one male relative said he did not have the time to talk about the issue as he was arranging to identify Blackman's body and speaking with police at the time.

Police said Blackman had 13 pending matters before the court for a variety of crimes including possession of a gun and ammunition and housebreaking. Haywood had eight pending matters of robbery and larceny.