[UPDATED] Panic as shots fired near St Francois Girls' College

A volley of gunshots in Belmont on October 4 sent parents, teachers and students of St Francois Girls’ College into a panic.

The shots came a week after two men, Curtis Jones, 50, and Tafawa Roberts, 24, were shot in Serraneau Road near the school, causing teachers and students to lock themselves in their classrooms and the school to be dismissed early.

At about 11 am on September 27, Jones and Roberts were shot by two gunmen who ran off but were found hiding in underground drains near the college hours later.

The suspects were eventually flushed out, but not before officers shot at them, injuring one suspect who later died while being treated at Port of Spain General Hospital.

Roberts reportedly died at hospital on October 4 and his associates are said to have fired several shots in the air in mourning after they received the news. Sources at the school said the gunshots erupted at around 8 am while children were still being dropped off at school.

Panic ensued, with students running for cover and parents ushering their children back into their cars.

As the news spread on social media and via parents’ WhatsApp groups, those who had dropped their children minutes earlier turned around and came back for them.

After the first shooting incident, parents told Newsday they felt “unsafe” and “traumatised” and October 4’s events would have done little to ease their concerns.

The shooting took place less than 24 hours after Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds and Minister in the Ministry of National Security Keith Scotland met with members of the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) on October 3 to discuss ways to combat crime and enhance community safety around schools.

That meeting was prompted by the shooting on September 27 and another two days earlier at a preschool.

On September 25, two men were shot dead and three people, including a four-year-old boy, were shot and wounded after gunmen opened fire at around 8 am outside Roxann’s Learning and Childhood Centre in Seventh Avenue, Malick.

One of the men, on being shot, ran into the preschool in an attempt to escape. He later died at hospital. The other man died outside the preschool.

Police have since said this shooting was gang-related as one of the men shot was “well known” to police. The ministry, in a media release issued on October 3, said Scotland told NPTA president Walter Stewart and vice president Zena Ramatali of the TT Police Service’s (TTPS) rollout of increased static, foot and mobile patrols throughout five police divisions, including the Port of Spain Division.

“This is a crucial project that complements ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Education to combat school violence and violence in the vicinity of schools, whether involving students or not. These increased patrols are to be expanded to all ten police divisions in short order,” the release said.

Stewart, in a WhatsApp message to Newsday, expressed concern over the incident. “This reinforces the need for quick implementation of the joint walkabouts & community town hall meetings which are intended to address community concerns, reduce the fear of crime, provide strategies on crime prevention, and strengthen community partnership.” He said the incident emphasises the need for structured and strategic policing, including frequent and sustained patrols, especially in hot spot areas. He also called for other stakeholders to collaboratively address the issue of crime.

“The NPTA is also calling on other organisations, including religious groups and NGOs to join in this crusade to get into the communities with collective voices saying no to crime.”

TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) vice president Adesh Dwarika told Newsday while he welcomes any measure to address the safety and security of teachers and students, a more proactive approach should be taken.

“The association welcomes any initiative to alleviate violence close to and around schools but we need to have a proper plan in place, especially with the schools that have a history of being at risk when it comes to violence of this nature.” Dwarika also called for the Ministry of Education to collaborate with national security officials to develop safety plans and protocols for schools in the event of gun violence.

“One of the things TTUTA would like to happen is that the Ministry of Education, together with relevant national security personnel, work with these schools to develop safety protocols for the children, teachers and any member of the schools that whenever issues like this arise, there is a proper procedure and proper protocols that everyone is aware of so they can follow those for the safety of everyone on the compound.”

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

A VOLLEY of gunshots in Belmont on October 4 sent parents, teachers and students of St Francois' Girls College into a panic.

Sources at the school said the gunshots erupted at around 8 am while children were still being dropped off to school.

Panic ensued, with students running for cover and parents ushering their children back into their cars.

The shots came a week after two men, Curtis Jones and Pafawa Roberts, were shot in Serraneau Road, near the school, when teachers and students locked themselves in their classrooms and the school was dismissed early.

Roberts reportedly died at hospital on October 4. His associates are said to have fired several shots in the air in mourning after they received the news.