[UPDATED] Man shot dead in Belmont near school

A man was gunned down near a primary school in Belmont on Tuesday morning, causing classes to be dismissed early.

The police identified the victim as Amoa Howe, 50.

The police said at around 9 am, gunshots rang out on Gloster Lodge Road near the Gloster Lodge Moravian primary school.

Howe, who was a past pupil of Queen's Royal College in Port of Spain, lived a few houses away with his family.

When the gunshots ended, residents saw the body with gunshot wounds on the roadway.

The police were alerted and officers from the Port of Spain Division and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations responded and gathered evidence.

People who knew him said he lived in England for a few years and was known for organising a Christmas party in the community.

No further information was given.

There were no reports of anyone else being injured.

TT Unified Teachers' Association (TTUTA) president Martin Lum Kin told Newsday that the school was dismissed after the police had visited the scene.

He said staff members and students were deeply and rightfully tramautised over the shooting death.

The TTUTA president said he hoped the necessary intervention would be taken. He added that while no one at the school was physically hurt, the psychological damage was severe.

"We look forward to the Education Ministry having counselling for the teachers and the students and, if necessary, accessing the Employee Assistance Programme," Lum Kin said.

"We are quite concerned that these incidents have been too frequent in the last few years. We hope that the relevant authorities can make the necessary interventions."

TTUTA, he said, acknowledges it would take a nationwide effort including the Education Ministry, National Security Ministry, NGOs and faith-based organisations to have a meaningful intervention to reduce such incidents."

He reiterated that such incidents had been negatively affecting TTUTA members and students.

"The sanctity of the schools is being desecrated, not only within the confines of the schools but also within the general area of the school."

On behalf of the National Parent-Teacher Association (NPTA), president Walter Stewart condemned the incident.

"The NPTA considers this dastardly act totally abhorrent, reprehensible, and one which should be condemned by every right-thinking person of TT," Stewart told Newsday.

"Schools and learning institutions are meant to be havens of safety and security, where learning, educational development and patriotism are daily imbued in the lives of our children.”

Having such acts committed so close and in the presence of teachers and students was totally unacceptable, he said.

He questioned the whereabouts of those people who, when there are police-involved shootings and killings, run to the streets and protest in disgust.

Walter added, "Where are these activists in moments and times like these when their voices should be loudly heard throughout the streets of those particular communities? These acts put in focus the need to put an all-out involvement approach where violence and crime belong to everyone and is everybody's business."

He called on everyone to play an active role in seeking to mitigate such acts of violence.

"NPTA totally denounces this particular act and looks forward to stakeholders coming together in a meaningful way in order to ensure that our students and teachers are protected, secured, and safe at all times."

No one has been arrested.

Investigations are ongoing.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A man was gunned down near a primary school in Belmont on Tuesday morning. The police identified the victim as Amoa Howe.

The police said at around 9 am, gunshots rang out on Gloster Lodge Road near the Gloster Lodge Moravian Primary School.

When the gunshots ended, residents saw the body with gunshot wounds on the roadway.

The police were alerted and officers from the Port of Spain Division and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations responded and gathered evidence. There were no reports of anyone else being injured.

No one has been arrested. Investigations are ongoing.