National boxer mourns brother killed by cops in Princes Town

The brother of Everitte Charles, the 21-year-old suspect killed by the police in Princes Town, blamed another man for encouraging him to be part of a robbery.

Michael "The Red Wolf" Alexander also criticised the police for killing Charles, saying had they arrested him, investigators would have realised he was "not in the criminal business."

"I need justice for my little brother," he said. "We don't live together but always talk on the phone.

"He did not really go out much. I heard he was home normal that day when the person came to the house. Before he left, some of his friends told me he was about to call me. But the person told him not to.

"My brother was very respectful. He never disrespected old people."

Charles lived at Rich Plain in Diego Martin.

Alexander, 29, represented TT as a lightweight in several boxing events over the years and has won several medals. In 2021, he was injured in a motorbike accident in Diego Martin and is still recovering.

From what Alexander was later told, the man took his brother to take part in a robbery the other man had been organising for a long time.

Alexander said he does not condone robbery or any other crime.

The shooting happened mid-morning on Friday at Ganpat Trace, Cleghorn Village in Princes Town, where police intercepted a bronze-coloured Elantra car with three occupants.

They had received information that the men were on their way to rob a business place at the Naparima Mayaro Road and had taken strategic positions to intercept the car.

When the men realised they were being followed, they reportedly rammed the unmarked police vehicle and fired a shot at the police.

They then lost control of their car and crashed into a fence. There was an exchange of gunfire, and Charles was shot dead after he got out of the car.

The two accomplices, a Special Reserve Police (SRP) officer attached to a unit in the Port of Spain district, and another man, were injured.

A now-viral video shows Charles lying down as the police shot him.

Alexander accused the police of using excessive force.

"The police killed him like a dog. He was unarmed. They could have just handcuffed him and then investigated the case."

The SRP was still in police custody without charge up to Tuesday, having been discharged from the San Fernando General Hospital.

The other suspect was still warded under police guard at hospital.

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and the police are investigating.