Pleasantville mother killed, son, husband shot multiple times

A woman was killed and her eight-year-old son and common-law-husband shot, when gunmen shot at their vehicle in Couva on Saturday night.

Dead is Denise Mendoza, 45, of Coconut Boulevard Pleasantville. Her companion Renako Pierre, 29, and their eight-year-old son Nikosi suffered multiple gunshot wounds and had emergency surgery at hospital. Police said the two were in a stable condition.

When Newsday visited the family home in Pleasantville, the building was vacant and under construction. Neighbours were very tight-lipped and said, while they had heard of the shooting incident, they had no comments to make.

Police said there was no known motive for the shooting at this time, but recalled in 2020, they rescued Pierre from a kidnap attempt. Three suspects, including a police constable who was attached to the Guard and Emergency Branch, were detained.

On Saturday, police reports say Pierre was driving a white Toyota Fielder, PDU 4190, along Lisas Boulevard, Point Lisas around 6.20 pm. Mendoza and Nikosi were also in the car.

The Fielder stopped on the Southern Main Road intersection, California, after the car was shot at multiple times.

Police were contacted and first responder PC Flemming found only the driver slumped rearward in the driver’s seat.

Flemming was told the two other occupants, who had multiple gunshot wounds, had been taken to the Couva District Health Facility (CDHF) by passers-by. Dr Sammy attended to the two, but Mendoza later died.

With the assistance of Cpl Ramadhin, Pierre was also taken to the CDHF, where he  was given emergency  treatment. Pierre and Nikosi were later transferred to another hospital, where emergency surgery was done to remove the bullets.

Police found several 5.56 spent shells at the scene.

PC Flemming is continuing enquiries.