Family of man killed by Central cops urges police: Tell the truth

The relatives of a Carenage mechanic killed in a purported shootout with police on Tuesday are contradicting the police version of events and calling on the police to tell the truth.

Police said Chaguanas CID officers were following up on reports of a robbery at a grocery on Freedom Street Extension, Enterprise, at around 6.15 pm when they were shot at.

They shot back, hitting Kisseh Lendor, 37, and another man.

Newsday was unable to confirm the identity of the second man up to Wednesday afternoon.

Police took both men to the Chaguanas District Health Facility, where they were declared dead.

Police said a pistol was found at the scene.

Speaking with Newsday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Wednesday morning, one of Lendor's relatives disagreed with the official police report and said his relative was simply delivering an item for a customer in Chaguanas when the shooting began.

"He left Carenage with another person to drop off a transmission, because he and a friend repair cars. They usually repair cars for the other guy that passed away.

"Policemen in plain clothes began shooting at them. They didn't give them a chance to respond."

The relative said he was disappointed in the lack of information provided by the police when he visited the hospital to find out more about Lendor's condition.

He also called on the officers to "come clean," as he said several passers-by saw the shooting, and claimed their accounts contradicted the policel version.

"I want the truth to come out.

"You made a mistake, you shot someone wrongfully. Stop tarnishing his name and say(ing) he was shooting at anyone."

Relatives said Lendor had worked as a painter and mechanic since losing his job as a supervisor during the covid19 pandemic in 2021.

Newsday tried to contact officials from the police service for a response but was unsuccessful.