By Sue-Ann Wayow
TWO men were wounded in a police-shooting incident, a 24-year-old man was murdered with one suspect being arrested and firearms seized on Sunday.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) reported on Monday that around 2.30 am, police officers of the Western Division observed a white Kia van, speeding along the Eastern Main Road.
Several attempts were made to intercept the vehicle. The vehicle came to a stop and one of the occupants shot at the officers.
In keeping with the Use of Force Policy, the officers then discharged their TTPS-issued firearms in the direction of the suspects.
The two men were then observed to be nursing injuries and were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex for medical attention, however, they later succumbed to their injuries. Two firearms were seized.
Around 7.15 pm, officers on patrol, responded to a report of loud explosions in Arouca.
Upon arrival, they discovered a man of Bon Air North, Windy Hill, Arouca lying on the ground with gunshot wounds about his body but showing signs of life. He was then taken to the Arima Health Facility where he was pronounced dead at 7.49 pm. The murder victim was later identified as Akeem Prudhumme, 24.
In keeping with the new operational structure for the Northern Division, a quick response from the North Central Operation Centre led to the interception of a vehicle.
One suspect was arrested in connection with the murder, while police are searching for the other suspects involved.
Firearms found in Central Division
Additionally, three persons were arrested and two firearms were seized in separate incidents in the Central Division, the TTPS reported.
In one incident, officers received information that led them to search a Nissan AD Wagon which was in a car park in Cunupia. The search resulted in one black Beretta PX4 Storm pistol, loaded with one magazine containing ten rounds of 9mm ammunition being seized and two men arrested.
In the other incident, members of the Central Division Task Force Area North acted on information and proceeded to the Felicity and Enterprise districts, where a 22- year-old man was arrested for possession of a Glock 19 pistol, one magazine and eight rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition.
Firearm found in Tobago
And over the weekend in Tobago, a firearm, a bag containing a quantity of 9mm ammunition and a spent shell were recovered around 6.05 pm on Friday by officers of the Moriah Police Station.
A black Mac10 submachine gun fitted with a silencer and an extended magazine containing eight rounds of 9mm ammunition were also recovered in a bushy area off a track on Manahambre Road, Princes Town.
While acting on information received, Mayaro Police proceeded to an abandoned lot along Naparima Mayaro Road in the vicinity of Solomon Street, where they recovered a revolver in a black plastic bag.
Investigations are continuing into these matters.
The TTPS stated that special attention was paid to crime hot spots, drug blocks, priority offenders and wanted persons during a Northern Divisional Crime eradication exercise from Friday to Sunday.
Several search warrants were executed and seven persons were arrested for various offences such as gang-related offences, robbery enquiries, shooting and wounding enquiries, resisting arrest and malicious damage.
