GANG warfare among rival groups in the Laventille area is responsible for the murder of two teenagers on Sunday.
Antonio Francois and Simeon Daniel, both 15, escaped from a Children’s Authority Support Centre on March 19, and were fatally shot by gunmen who chased them from a house they were in at Mc Shine Lands, Laventille, Port-of-Spain.
This was confirmed by acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Investigations and Intelligence, Mc Donald Jacob, in a press release by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service on Monday.
Jacob said investigators have received vital information and that the probe was now at a sensitive stage.
Around 7.10pm on Sunday, police officers responded to a report of several loud explosions heard in the vicinity of Mc Shine Lands, Laventille, Port-of-Spain.
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On arrival, the police officers met an informant who pointed out an abandoned house. The police officers made checks and discovered the bodies of two young men lying motionless on a rooftop, the same level as the roadway.
They were identified as Francois and Daniel.
Investigators said Francois and Daniel were in company with other persons at Mc Shine Lands when they were accosted by two armed men, who wore clothing with the word ‘POLICE’ marked on the back.
The young persons tried to escape, but the assailants pursued Francois and Daniel, following which several loud explosions were heard.
Two brothers, who were present, were shot and wounded, and taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital for treatment.
A third escapee from Children’s Authority Support Centre, who was also in the group, was not injured and was taken into protective custody.
Francois and Daniel were among five who escaped from the facility by squeezing through the burglar proofing. The others are Stephen Antoine, Stephan Nicholas and Ricardo Thompson.
Enquiries are continuing.
