[UPDATED] Coast Guard officer killed in Point Fortin

POLICE believe 36-year-old Coast Guard officer Dacian John was killed during a robbery gone wrong.

He was shot during an alleged robbery on May 2 after one of the bandits noticed he had a gun.

John, of La Resource Road South, D’Abadie, was in his Audi near a friend’s house on Cassia Street, Southern Gardens, Point Fortin, around 1.15 am, when three men approached the car.

Two of them were armed and ordered John and his friends to hand over their valuables.

Police say the armed men stood on either side of the car while the unarmed man began searching the occupants.

While searching them, the bandit realised John had his service-issued pistol on him, and shouted, “Gun!”

One of the armed men shot John several times though the passenger window.

The bandits ran off with the valuables they had already taken. They did not take John's gun.

His friends took him to the Point Fortin Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at around 2.30 am.

Newsday tried to contact his family, but they declined comment, and the apartment he shared with relatives was empty when Newsday arrived.

A friend, who chose to remain anonymous, said although John belonged to an elite unit within the TT Coast Guard (TTCG), he was not the type of person to go looking for a confrontation.

“Although he had his (military) training, due to the unit he was in, he was careful to stay out of certain things because trouble easy to come. He was at pains not to find himself in certain situations."

The friend believes the bandits shot John out of cowardice as he was never the type of man to place his friends and family in unnecessary danger.

“He always said if he get in a situation like that (a robbery), he will let them take everything and go because it not worth it.”

“I figure it’s nothing more than they see the gun, and thought he was going to use it so they let go some coward shots on him.”

His friend said everyone is still shocked over his death.

“He was a real humble soul. He was just dedicated to betterment. Always looking to improve himself and others around him.”

The friend added John was also a dedicated father and loved his six-year-old daughter with a passion.

Although John loved travelling, his friend said he used every opportunity to spend time with his family.

John was also a fitness enthusiast with a large following on social media.

“He loved to develop younger people.”

Many people took to his Instagram page to express sadness at his death.

The friend believes while John’s killer may not be caught right away, it is just a matter of time before the suspect is captured, brought to justice and meets his fate.

“Justice delayed is not necessarily justice denied, you know. So we are not worried.”

John is expected to be buried under military rites.

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

A Coast Guard officer was killed in Point Fortin this morning, and his licensed firearm stolen.

Newsday understands the officer, Dacian John, 36, was liming with friends in the road around 1.15 am when two armed men approached them and announced a robbery.

John and his friends were ordered to hand over their valuables.

One of the men began searching them, and John had his service-issued pistol on him.

A short while later, several loud explosions were heard, and his friends realised he had been shot.

They took him to the Point Fortin hospital where he died.

The bandits escaped with John's gun and a quantity of valuables.