Gang war blamed for three more murders

THE murders of three men in Arima and St James on Thursday night and Friday morning has been labelled as gang related, but not connected to the ongoing dispute in Morvant that left two men dead, a house firebombed and a community in fear.

The three men murdered were identified as Reuben "Beaver" or "Tallman" Jones, Rawson "Boyo" Arcia and Kyle Soo Ping Chow.

Police reported that Jones, 40, of Mendez Trace, Samaroo Village, Arima, and Arcia, also 40, of Building 4, Trou Macaque Road, Laventille were killed while liming at Jones's house.

At around 10.20 pm, police were told, the men were at the end of the street liming and both returned to Jones’ home for a short while. While there, they were ambushed and killed.

Police said the killing of the two men stemmed from an internal issue of a gang based in east Port of Spain but has been expanding throughout the country.

The Sixx, which police said both men were members of, has joined forces with ABG and are at war with Rasta City. Police said there was some internal conflict resulting in the shooting deaths of both men.

Soo Ping Chow, 36 was affiliated with Rasta City and was killed as a result of that affiliation.

Police said Soo Ping Chow of Belle Vue Long Circular, St. James, a baker at Freddie's Bakery, was killed on his way to work just after 5 am.

CCTV footage showed Soo Ping Chow being ambushed as we walked along Bombay street and was shot dead. The video captured a black car driving past Soo Ping Chow, and the front seat passenger came out and opened fire.

The deceased tried running away and was followed by the gunman who continued shooting. Soo Ping Chow, who had something in his hand is seen trying to shield the bullets with the item as the gunman stood over him and shot him several times.

The killer then got back in the car and escaped.

Police described Soo Ping Chow as someone who “liked to be around badness” but was not known to be heavily involved in any criminality. Investigators said Soo Ping Chow would have been targeted because he was an easy target with association with Rasta City.

Rasta City and ABG/Sixx war also saw the deaths of two men earlier this week. Reynold Victor and Keston Alves were gunned down a day apart.

The killing of Alves and Victor, while it involves the same gangs, police said is not directly linked to the double murders of Jones, Arcia and Soo Ping Chow.

Alves, of Second Caledonia, Morvant is the cousin of a murder accused from the area. He was killed on Monday afternoon when two gunmen ran into a clothing store Threadz and killed him.

A day later, in supposed retaliation, Victor, the brother of another murder accused, also from Second Caledonia, Morvant was killed. He was shot dead while standing at the corner of Second Street and Saddle Road, San Juan.

A day after Victor was killed, his childhood home was firebombed by ten-gun toting, flambeaux-throwing men.