FOUR CRIMINALS and two security guards were killed on Monday evening after a robbery at a popular business in La Romaine.
The shooting occurred at Pennywise Plaza around 5 pm when sales money was being removed from the compound by armed, uniformed guards.
Another security officer remains in critical condition at hospital.
Police officers quickly responded and followed leads to Pond Street, La Romaine, where the suspects were fatally shot by police inside a house.
According to police, the security guards were leaving the compound in a white 4×4 pick-up van when the bandits fired multiple shots at the vehicle.
The guards opened the doors to attempt to escape when they were shot.
The robbers grabbed the cash and fled in a vehicle which was abandoned along the South Trunk Road. They then robbed a motorist of his vehicle in their attempt to escape.
Immediately upon the robbery, Pennywise was locked with staff and customers inside as they awaited on police to arrive.
Police officers from several divisions arrived and took two of the security guards to the San Fernando General Hospital where one died. The other died at the scene.
When police arrived at the premises, customers and staff exited the compound.
The getaway vehicle, a Nissan Tiida, used by the criminals was found on the M2 Ring Road.
Then acting on information, officers went to a house on Pond Street where the bandits opened fire on them. The police returned fire killing four of the suspects.
Eyewitnesses said they heard about 40 shots during the robbery attempt at Pennywise.
Speaking on the Beyond the Tape programme on TV6 on Monday, Acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob said police recovered three AR15 rifles and one pistol after the suspects were killed.
