TWO suspects who allegedly initiated a gunfight with police officers are now dead.
The shooting occurred on Thursday morning in Champ Fleurs.
Dead are Jerome Charles and Andrew Blacks.
According to a release by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the officers also recovered two illegal firearms at the scene, one AK Rifle, with 18 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, and one Glock 17 pistol, with 17 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Police reports are that officers conducted an intelligence-led, search warrant exercise in Area West of the North Central Division and Area North of the Northern Division.
At around 4.30 am, North Central Division Task Force –West (NCDTFW) officers attempted to execute a search warrant at the home of a person of interest, relative to recent shootings in the Mt. D’or District.
The officers were confronted by two men armed with weapons, who allegedly pointed their firearms in their direction, and fired upon the officers. The officers returned fire according to the TTPS Use of Force Policy, then both men ran off. The officers chased after the men, who were found a short distance away, nursing gunshot wounds.
The men were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex to get medical attention, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
The exercise was initiated by ACP Wayne Mystar, Snr Supt Ramphall, coordinated by Supt Powder, Insp Highly and directly supervised by Sgt La Pierre, Ag Cpl. Forde, Ag Cpl Superville, Ag Cpl Gooding and other members of the NCDTF West, with support from officers of the NCDTF East, Northern Division Gang Unit, Tunapuna and St Joseph Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and TTPS Canine Unit.
