[UPDATED] Two overnight murders bring toll closer to 600

TWO murders, one in Claxton Bay and another in Woodbrook have brought the murder toll even closer to the 600-murder mark.

In Woodbrook, 17-year-old Jeremiah Rogers was riddled with bullets, while another teenager was wounded, and in Claxton Bay, 42-year-old Wendell Simmons shot dead and another man wounded.

Police said officers of the Belmont Police Station were heading west along Tragarete Road, Woodbrook when they heard gunshots near Picton Street, Newtown.

Police said when they got there they were told that two people had been shot. Officers saw Rogers dead on the road, and another man standing on the side of the road.

Officers took the wounded man to the Port of Spain General Hospital, where he was treated. Rogers’ body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James, where an autopsy is expected to be done.

Police recovered 39 spent shells at the scene.

In Simmons’ case, police said they received a call at about 9.18 pm on December 20 which led them to Cedar Hill Road, Claxton Bay.

When they arrived they saw Simmons lying dead on the northern side of the road.

Inquires revealed that Simmons was liming at JJJ Little Kitchen Roti Shop when a gunman dressed in dark clothing approached him and shot him several times before escaping.

Police said another man was wounded in the incident.

He was taken to hospital where he was treated.

The two latest murders have taken the toll to 598.

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

Two overnight murders, one in Claxton Bay and another in Woodbrook have brought the murder toll to 598 for the year.

While details are still sketchy on the incidents in Woodbrook and Arima, the deceased in the Claxton Bay murder has been identified as Wendell Simmons, of Diamond Road, Claxton Bay.

Sources said Simmons was with another man near Servol in Macaulay when they were approached by gunmen and shot several times.

They were both taken to the hospital where Simmons died.

In Woodbrook, a man was shot near Picton Street, on December 20 and later declared dead. His identity was not immediately available.

More on these as they become available.