Teen faces charge in Marabella robbery

tBy this evening or tomorrow, police are expected to charge a 16-year-old boy for Thursday’s robbery at a house in Marabella which ended in the police shooting death of 15-year-old accomplice Isaac Simmons.

Police arrested the young suspect at the scene of the crime and he remained in custody at the Marabella Police Station, up to last evening. The minor, of Marabella, faces a charge of robbery with violence. Once charged, he will appear before a San Fernando magistrate.

Police responded to a report of robbery on Thursday afternoon at the home of a bank manager at Moze Drive, Gopaul Lands, Marabella.

On seeing the police, the bandits attempted to flee the scene and Simmons, police said, opened fire at the officers. Police reports state that Simmons shot and wounded PC Anand Ram, 27, and police returned fire killing him. Simmons was a Form Three student of Carapichaima West Secondary School and lived at Union Park East, Marabella.

Police recovered a loaded firearm next to his body. Police also detained the suspect as well as another person who they subsequently released without charge. Up to yesterday the third accomplice remained at large.

The injured policeman remained warded in a stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday. Ram, who joined the Police Service 18 months ago, sustained gunshot wounds to the lower abdomen. Ram is assigned to the Gasparillo Police Station.

The autopsy on Simmons is scheduled for today at the Forensic Sciences Centre, St James.