A
alexk
Guest
Police are still searching for a man, who was wounded in a shootout with off-duty police officers after murdering a man in Woodbrook, on Friday night.
Investigators had alerted hospitals, health centres and private healthcare institutions to be on the lookout for the suspect seeking treatment for gunshot wounds.
According to reports, around 11 pm, Akile Joefield was liming with a friend at a bar at the corner of Alfredo Street and Ariapita Avenue. When they were about to leave, Joefield realised that one of his tyres was flat. As he and his friend were changing the tyre, they were approached by a gunman, who shot Joefield.
Joefield was hit several times and after he fell to the ground, the gunman stood over him and shot him several more times.
A group of off-duty police officers, who were liming at a nearby bar, heard the gunshots and responded. There was a shootout between the gunman and officers.
Police believe the gunman was wounded but he managed to evade police and escape.
Joefield was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Joefield is the older brother of Nick Dwarika, a security guard who was charged with the unlawful killing of 33-year-old Jameel Douglas.
In April, Douglas was stabbed to death during a scuffle outside KFC Independence Square in Port-of-Spain, where Dwarika was employed. Dwarika is currently on $100,000 bail.
Police believe his attacker punctured the tyre to stall Joefield at the location.
Joefield was the fourth person to be murdered between Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
In another incident, 50-year-old Clint Regis, of Windy Hill, Arouca, was killed after he was struck by a stray bullet near his home on Friday night.
Residents contacted police when they heard a volley of gunshots shortly after 11 pm. Police responded and conducted a search for possible victims before they abandoned their search owing to poor lighting conditions.
The following morning, they found Regis’ body lying outside his home.
Police officers were also summoned to the scene of another murder at Calvary Hill, San Juan on Saturday. When police arrived, they found the victim, 25-year-old Keston James, from L’anse Mitan Road, Carenage, lying unconscious behind the wheel of his car.
James, a PH taxi driver, had been shot several times. He was taken to hospital where he died while receiving treatment.
In the last incident, a man from Valencia died in hospital on Saturday after being shot during an argument with a friend the previous night.
Police said around 10.30 pm on Friday night, Shawn Paul was liming near the Valencia Market when he had an argument with his friend. The man drew a pistol and shot Paul several times before running away.
Paul was taken to the Sangre Grande District Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Autopsies are expected to be performed on the victims at the Forensic Science Centre in St James, this morning.
These latest killings have taken the murder toll for the year to 267. Investigations are continuing.