North Eastern Division Task Force (NEDTF) officers have arrested two suspects in connection with the latest murder in their division. The victim has been identified as Gerald Nelson, 43, of Second Caledonia, Morvant.
According to police reports, Nelson and Jelani Coa were liming at a house on Sugar Hill, Cipriani Avenue, just after 4 pm on Saturday when two gunmen approached and started shooting at them. Nelson was hit several times while Coa was hit in the leg. Nelson died on the spot while Coa was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he remained in a stable condition up to yesterday. The gunmen escaped on foot.
Sgt Augustine and Cpls Jones and Constantine visited the scene and held two suspects within hours of the shooting. Investigations are continuing. The murder toll now stands at 121.
Meanwhile, the weapon believed to have been used in the murder of Barataria resident Nigel “Kumo” George was also found during a routine exercise by NEDTF officers on Saturday.
On Monday last around 10 pm, George, 44, of Sawmill Avenue, was found with gunshots about the body by officers attached to the Morvant CID and Hotspot Patrol who had responded to a report of gunshots in the area. He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
On Saturday between 2 pm and 6 pm, the NEDTF, led by Sgt Liston Taylor and including Cpls Small, Quashie and Constables Williams, Antoine, Voisin, Samuel, Edwards and WPC Moore, conducted an exercise in the division.
Acting on information received, the officers went to Small Street, Sawmill Avenue, Morvant, where they searched an abandoned bushy lot. In a shallow hole the officers found an AR-15 5.56 machine with a magazine and 17 rounds of 5.56 ammunition all wrapped in clear plastic wrap.
NEDTF officers also seized a machine gun, shotgun and two 9mm pistols during an exercise on Friday.
Investigations are being conducted by Cpl Small and PC Samuel. The officers also seized a machine gun, shotgun and two handguns on Friday.