[UPDATED] 3 killed, boy wounded in Guanapo shooting

A triple murder in the quiet, rural community of Guanapo has left a six-year-old boy orphaned and hospitalised after gunmen stormed his parents’ home, killing them and his uncle.

At around 10.15 pm on February 22, Anicia James, 47, was just about to close her shop on La Retreat Extension Road when two gunmen entered and forced their way into the adjoining house.

They ran through the house, shooting at the occupants, killing James, her brother Anselm James, 49, and her common-law husband Mitchell Francois, 30.

Her six-year-old son was shot in both feet and remains warded at hospital.

The gunmen then smashed their way through the front door, almost breaking it off its hinges as they left.

The gunmen, who came on foot, escaped by running through a nearby orange orchard.

Police say they have no exact motive yet, but initial inquiries have led them to believe the murders are gang-related.

Speaking with the media at the family home, James’s relative said he is unsure who was the target but dismissed her involvement with any gang.

“I'm not sure if it's gang related or what because I can’t speak on behalf of Francois. But I can talk on behalf of Anicia James and I know she was a humble soul and she had her shop running and that was basically it.”

He said online reports that the murders were the result of a dispute after a car accident which left Anselm James injured were untrue.

“I don’t feel this has anything to do that.”

He said the family was cordial with the other person involved in the accident.

“They were dealing with him normal. Everything was cool. It could have never been that.”

The relative said although there are cameras at the front of the house, he is unsure if they are working and no neighbours have come forward to tell him what they saw.

“The neighbours don’t really interact too much either, so nobody would (tell me anything).”

He said this, coupled with his experience interacting with police in the past, has left him unsure if the family will get justice.

“We were in a situation with corrupted officers already so we don't really trust them. I mean, not all police is the same, but it ent looking promising to me.”

He said the family is instead focused on helping her children recover.

“She has a little son and a little daughter she left behind. She also has a big (adult) son and a daughter so they have to pick up from where she left off and basically take care of the smaller ones."

The relative said he intends to help in whatever way he can with the children.

“I just have to help do what she was accustomed doing and take care of her children.”

Seven dead, six injured after two Guanapo shootings

The murders evoked sad memories from villagers of a 2023 incident in the same community which left four people, including three children, dead and five others injured after they were shot while sleeping.

Shortly after midnight on September 21, 2023, gunmen stormed the Peterkin family’s home at La Retreat Extension, killing ten-year-old Faith Peterkin and her siblings Arianna, 14, Shane, 17, and Tiffany, 19.

Two men from the community, Jalani Rivers, 22, and Jodel Noel, 24, have since been charged with the murders.

Speaking with Newsday on Sunday, residents said there has been an exponential increase in the police presence in the community since the 2023 shooting.

“It’s a big, big difference in terms of the amount of police in the area since those children died,” said a man who lives near James's house.

An elderly man sitting in a yard added, “They are around right through, day and night."

Although seven people have died and six were left injured after the two incidents in the community, the elderly man said he was not worried.

“I believe in this life if you s***, s*** will come around you. If you ent doing nothing, then nothing will happen to you. So I does go all about and come back any time.”

He said he believed the police are doing what they can to suppress crime in the area.

"We are pleased with the police presence because that does make a difference. Although, these days, the youths don’t care. Police or no police, you see how they are doing things.”

Another man echoed similar sentiments as he said the police presence has been ramped up since the killings.

“The police can only do so much. They are doing their work and they are here right through. If they not patrolling they out on the corner waiting for any calls because it’s a hot area.”

He said people in the community have to start to look within themselves if they want to fix the crime situation.

“I wouldn’t say police is the problem. It’s the people themselves, and what you involve yourself in. You reap what you sow.”

Despite the violent crime metres from home, the man said he is not particularly concerned about his safety.

He said although the country “right now is not the safest place,” he believes there is more to this incident than meets the eye.

“Yes, we will have concerns, but I don’t involve myself in them things so I’m not so concerned. This is not just a robbery and killing. It have more to this story.”

James’s relative, who said he was not at home at the time of the murders, complained that the increased police presence was unable to prevent his family’s death or ensure the killers’ capture.

“The police was right around when the incident happened. They were right down the street, a few houses away and nothing was done.”

He said the only nugget of comfort he had was the appearance of some of the top brass in the police service who went to the home to speak with relatives.

“The seniors give me a good response, you know. They trying to do what they have to do to get justice. I comfortable with what they do.”

The relative pleaded with gunmen as he said too many people are dying as collateral damage.

“It ent making sense. You are killing innocent people. Even if you come for one person, you're shooting up a house and you know there are children and other people in the house. Look for whoever you want and don't kill innocent people!”

Acting DCP Curt Simon, in a video sent by the TTPS, said police note the public's concerns about shooting and murders during the state of emergency.

"The TTPS have come down in this area in great numbers to show that we are not about to take these murders without reacting to them in a positive way."

Simon said several units, including the Victim and Witness Support Unit, went to the community in the aftermath of the murders.

"Three persons have lost their lives and it is of great concern to us, and we are here to assure you all that we will leave no stone unturned in penetrating this investigation with a view of apprehending, detaining, arresting and charging the perpetrators."

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

At midday on February 23, police were still at a house in Guanapo, Arima, where three people were shot dead and a six-year-old wounded the night before.

At around 10.15 pm on February 22, two gunmen ran into a house adjoining a shop and killed a woman, her husband and brother.

The gunmen, who came on foot, then escaped through a nearby orange field.

The woman's six-year-old son was also shot in his foot and remains warded at hospital.

Police say they have no exact motive yet, but initial inquiries have led them to believe the murders are gang-related.