[UPDATED] Cocorite shooting claims 2 lives

TWO murders in Cocorite and one in Oropouche, both on Sunday, have taken the murder toll for the weekend to 12. In addition, a police-involved shooting incident in Port of Spain, also on the weekend, resulted in four men being killed.

For the year so far, as of press time on Sunday night, there have been 270 murders committed.

In the Cocorite incident, police said Geovani Jones Lashley, 30, was liming with Shemuel Robenson, 21, and a 23-year-old man at Pitilal Hill in Water Hole, at around 9.30 am when they were shot at.

Lashley and Robenson were hit several times while the third man was shot in his left leg.

Residents said when they heard rapid gunshots they called the police and remained locked inside their homes. Officers who arrived minutes later took the three men to the St James Infirmary where both Lashley and Robenson were declared dead on arrival while the third man was treated.

Relatives of the dead men, who were at the crime scene, refused to be interviewed by Newsday. Two women were seeing weeping as they hugged each other near the crime scene. Police confirmed that the two women were relatives of the two murdered men.

Earlier on Sunday, at 8.30 am, the body of 51-year-old Tyrone Nehorah was found in a dasheen patch near his Harris Village, South Oropouche home. There were visible wounds to his neck. Investigators said Nehorah was last seen alive at around 7 pm on Saturday.

There were nine murders committed between Friday and Saturday.

On Saturday, four men – Kevon "Mincie" Andrews, a PH driver and his passengers Keron pope, Carlton Campbell and Elijah Torrell – were gunned down in North Coast Road, Maracas in Andrews' car.

Also on Saturday, police found the body of an unidentified man with gunshot wounds to his face at the corner of Sawmill Trace and the Old Valencia Road, Valencia.

In another incident, pensioner Evans Henry, 84, was beaten to death by a relative at his Spring Road, Five Rivers, Arouca, at around 11.35 am on Saturday. Police said the relative began throwing stones at Henry's house, damaging several windows.

The relative used a hammer to force his way into Henry's home before beating him. The relative, police said, later pulled Henry into the front yard and kicked him repeatedly before running away. A district medical officer visited the scene and declared Henry dead.

Newsday visited the area on Sunday to try and speak with relatives but no one was at home at the time.

One of Henry's neighbours said the nature of the murder left him shaken and he hoped the killer could be found.

"I knew him (Henry) for a while, he had his ways but he was an okay person generally.

"I was at work at the time when this was going on but a relative called me and told me what happened.

"It really made me feel sad and I hope the police can find this person and bring them to justice because we're supposed to honour and respect our elders not kill them."

On Saturday afternoon, Curtis Harriot, 35, was shot dead by gunmen who pretended to be police officers at Debe Extension off the Solomon Hochoy Highway.

Then at around 6.30 pm on Saturday, Dexter Benjamin, 51, was stabbed several times after an argument with a relative at his Chocolate Alley, Sogren Trace, Laventille, home. Besson Street police went to the scene with a district medical officer and declared Benjamin dead.

On Friday, the body of Moussa Walker of Claxton Bay was found in Sangre Grande. Police said the man was 34 and had been shot dead in Ojoe Road, Sangre Grande.

This story was originally published with the title "One dead, two wounded in Cocorite shooting" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A SHOOTING incident in Cocorite during the early morning hours on Sunday has left one man dead and two others in hospital with gunshot injuries.

St James police received a report of a shooting in Randoo Lane, Water Hole, at around 9.40 am and went to area where they found Giovanni Jones Lashley, 30, bleeding from a gunshot wound on the left side of his head.

Two other men, aged 21 and 23, were also wounded in the attack.

Police took the three to the St James Infirmary where Lashley was pronounced dead on arrival. His body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for autopsy. The other men remained warded at hospital.

St James CID and Homicide Bureau of Investigations (Region I) officers were still at the scene up to midday.