[UPDATED] UK tourist shot as two killed on Ariapita Avenue

Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher said the deadly early morning shooting on Saturday at Ariapita Avenue in Port of Spain, which left a UK Carnival visitor injured, and two men dead, was gang-related.

Harewood-Christopher, via a media statement on Saturday, said through intelligence and technical support, the police are pursuing several leads.

"The female victim has been treated for an injury to one of her legs and she has since been discharged. Our Victim and Witness Support Unit has been made available to lend further support," Harewood-Christopher said.

The CoP was referring to Tessa French, the 37-year-old United Kingdom national, who was shot in her right calf early Saturday. French was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital for medical care.

Initially, the two dead victims were unidentified. But the police statement later identified one only as "Jessie or Javon" of Morvant and the other as Atiba Rodriguez, 37, of Romain Lands, Morvant.

Rodriguez worked as a mason with the Works and Transport Ministry.

The shooting happened at around 4.25 am on Saturday near Alfredo Street.

"These incidents will obviously cause concern for me. However, I want to assure members of the public that these incidents are being vigorously pursued. Police officers are out there in full strength doing everything possible to prevent further occurrences. Unfortunately, there are those who remain intent on creating chaos and mayhem," Harewood-Christopher said.

On Thursday, during a police briefing Harewood-Christopher assured the public that hundreds of officers have been assigned to patrol the streets for Carnival to ensure the safety of all.

In the statement, Harewood-Christopher said over the past 24 hours, arising out of our many nationwide anti-crime exercises, three illegal guns and over three kilogrammes of marijuana were seized. Over 15 people have been arrested for various offences.

She emphasised that the police were working "extremely hard" to prevent such situations in every practical way.

"The police will continue to be out there using all our resources and intelligence and working tirelessly and relentlessly to prevent these situations," she said.

"Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, unless citizens and visitors comply with the law, exercise restraint, and cooperate with the police in treating with lawlessness, the possibility of these incidents occurring will continue to be our challenge."

She assured the public that the police have a very effective operational plan and would persevere in their efforts and continue to be proactive and diligent in performing their duty during this Carnival season.

Harewood-Christopher said, "We remain optimistic that our operations will be successful, and we will get the desired results."

Woodbrook police were alerted about the shooting, and on arrival, officers saw the bodies of two men with gunshot wounds.

Sgt Mohammed of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (Region I), as well as other police, visited the scene and gathered information.

ACP Collis Hazel, Snr Supt Rishi Singh, acting ASP Lal, W/Insp Gonzales-Lewis, W/Sgt Seemungal, PC Antione, PC Abdul-Latiff and other police also visited the crime scene. The police were from Port of Spain CID, the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Port of Spain Task Force.

Investigations are ongoing

This story was originally published with the title "2 men killed, Carnival visitor injured in Ariapita Avenue shooting" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

An early morning shooting at Ariapita Avenue in Port of Spain left two men dead and wounded a woman who is visiting the island for the 2023 Carnival celebrations.

A police report said the shooting happened at around 4.25 am on Saturday near Alfredo Street.

The two male victims have not yet been identified, but the police identified the woman as Tessa French, 37, a United Kingdom national, who was shot to her right calf. She was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital for medical care.

The police report said PC Dowell of the Woodbrook CID and PC Ali of the Woodbrook police station responded to reports of gunshots being heard on Ariapita Avenue.

On arrival, the police saw two men of lying motionless with gunshot wounds.

One had a corn-row hairstyle, was slim built and dressed in a black jersey, three-quarter jeans, and black and white sneakers. He was lying on his back.

The other victim had a low haircut and was of slim built. He was dressed in a pink and white jersey, three-quarter pants, and white sneakers.

Sgt Mohammed and other police from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (Region I) visited the scene and gathered information.

Also visiting were police ACP Collis Hazel, Snr Supt Rishi Singh, acting ASP Lal, W/Insp Gonzales-Lewis, W/Sgt Seemungal, PC Antione, PC Abdul-Latiff. The police were from Port of Spain CID, the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Port of Spain Task Force.

Investigations are ongoing