Police kill one, wound another in separate shootings

POLICE shot and wounded one man  and killed another during separate police-involved shootings on November 27.

A police statement on November 28 said officers on patrol on the Eastern Main Road, Sangre Chiquito around 2.10 am on November 27, stopped a white H100 van.

They saw the van was carrying bulky items hidden under a tarpaulin in the tray. Three men were in the van and one of them got out and ran off. The other two men were arrested.

Police ran after the other man into a swampy area, where he got into difficulty in the water. Police said he pulled out a gun, fired at them and they shot back. They said the man threw his gun into the water and was arrested shortly after.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged.

Police said the van was carrying a power generator and other tools. They searched for the gun but were unsuccessful.

In the Southern Division, police were on patrol around 2.30 am in Tarouba when they saw a car driven by someone wearing a mask covering his face and head.

Police followed the car ,which stopped near the Marabella roundabout. They said the man pointed a gun at them and a gunshot was heard.

The car then drove away, but police intercepted it at Battoo Avenue Recreation Ground.

Police said the gunman shot at them again and they shot back, hitting him. He was taken to San Fernando General Hospital, where he died.

He was identified as Wilfred Baptiste, 61, of Marabella.

Police found a pistol with four rounds of ammunition.

Checks found the car had been stolen from the La Romaine area around 7 pm on November 26. Investigations were ongoing into the two incidents.