No sympathy for six suspects slain by police

Members of the public say they have little sympathy for the six robbery suspects who were shot by police on August 14.

The suspects were killed hours after an early-morning home invasion involving a 68-year-old man at a house on Otis Lane, Couva.

In a statement on August 15, police said officers from the Couva CID and the Central Division Task Force tracked the suspects to Razack Trace, Freeport.

Police said they saw a Toyota Aqua reportedly linked to the Otis Lane robbery, and when they announced themselves, the suspects shot at them.

Police shot back and injured six people, five males and one female, who were taken to the Couva Health Facility, where they were pronounced dead.

The suspects have been named as Jovan Simon, 31, of Diamond Village, Claxton Bay; Nicholas Caesar; Saleem John, 19, of Sum Hill, Claxton Bay; Kevon John, 23, of Sum Hill, Claxton Bay; Isaiah Olivierre, 21, of Maturita Marie Avenue, Arima; and a 16-year-old girl, of George Street, La Romaine. The statement did not name the girl but Newsday understands that she has been identified as Salome Ranghill.

Police said they found several items stolen from Taylor and other items stolen in a robbery in the St Joseph Police District along with three metal objects resembling guns.

The statement noted the ages of the suspects which it described as “a deeply troubling trend” where young people under the age of 25 were the primary subjects in criminal investigations.

Titled as a statement from Commissioner of Police, Erla Harewood-Christopher, it said society must confront the issue with honesty, urgency and a strong resolve.

“The important and crucial role of parents and guardians cannot be understated as you play the primary role of guiding our youth toward positive and constructive paths. We need to actively engage with young people, support them and help them to navigate through these turbulent times and steer them away from the appeal of criminal behaviour.”

Harewood-Christopher said while the shootings were tragic, the police maintained a zero-tolerance policy regarding home invasions.

“These are serious crimes and their effects are far reaching, as one incident can rob an entire community of the peace and safety previously enjoyed. We are committed to pursuing and holding accountable, all those who perpetrate these offences.

“They will face the full force of law enforcement, and we will continue to implement the necessary measures to protect our law-abiding citizens, especially our elderly and vulnerable.”

The police promised to thoroughly investigate the incident “in accordance with our standard operating procedures.”

When Newsday went to the scene of the robbery which prompted the police’s search for the bandits, very few people were willing to speak with the media.

One resident, however, said the incident was a first for the people in that community.

“We does live good here. We does have we door open. We don’t have crime or nothing in the back here. It’s have a little drugs on one of the nearby streets but you don’t hear nothing in this street. Here don’t have nothing.”

Another neighbour said the incident had sparked discussion about establishing a neighbourhood watch.

“I see things like this on the news. I saw this one too but it’s only when I realised it was my neighbour, I see how serious (crime) is.”

The neighbour said they had little sympathy for the criminals who had spoiled the serenity of their community.

“We frighten to walk about now. If they can do that to elderly people, what they will do to children? They are dangerous people and the police took the correct measures.”

Newsday approached random members of the public to ask their thoughts on the police shooting but was hard-pressed to find anyone who had sympathy for the suspects.

One woman who wanted to remain anonymous said, “Sympathy? How you will have that? They should kill six more, and set an example.”

A woman nearby added, “If you have money they torturing you, if you don't, they still torturing you. We can't have sympathy.”

Members of the public who spoke with Newsday gave their first name only.

A man named John said, “It is unfortunate, but that is the age of criminals in TT. If you look online, it is the younger ones who are in the crime. Police should have been doing that long time.”

He added the parents of criminals were to blame for the violent society TT had become.

“Everybody saying police shouldn't shoot them and blaming society. But where are their parents? Their parents are to blame. When a dog bites somebody, who they does blame? So if your child bites somebody, who is to blame?”

Another man who gave his name as Clint said he had no sympathy for the suspects either and added he hoped the police treated crime bosses the same way.

“Them is just foot soldiers though. I hope police get the head and the rest of people they were working with. What hurting me, though, is the 15-year-old-girl.”

A man who identified himself as Nigel said, “I can’t have sympathy. Them ent robbing because they hungry. They doing it out of wickedness.

"Police found plenty stolen things in their place so I can't have sympathy for them. These days, bandits are robbing you and then shooting you or killing you. No sympathy from me at all.”

Avalon said, “Bandits are heartless, so karma has a return address so I have no sympathy for them. They out here distressing people, so they have to expect that will happen. Police were absolutely right, in my opinion.”

A woman named Thandi said while she had some sympathy, she was conflicted about whether the police were right to do kill the suspects.

“Once you have a gun you done make up your mind to dead. We don't know true facts, but if they shoot behind police, the police had a right to shoot back. But if they didn't, then the police had no right to kill them.”

Others took a more thoughtful approach as they said there were deeper issues to consider apart from public sympathy for the suspects.

“It's young lives lost, but more intervention is needed at all levels to save future generations,” said Jason.

He added, “It don't always have to end with a shootout to capture and bring to justice. If you kill everybody we get no answers. They were young and reformable.”

Claire said, “I feel it a little bit because they are young, but children need to make better choices about who they hang out with. You may not be involved and the people you roll with may be in crime.”

Brent told Newsday he had sympathy for society, not the suspects.

“People have to be more concerned with solving the problems we have. Yes there are programmes etcetera but we need to work on the fabric of society to address this problem. There is a generation that seems to be low hanging fruit and the result of a breakdown in family. This is a time for fathers to step up, take responsibility, and be leaders in their family.”