With less that 100 days gone in 2017 so far, the murder toll in Tobago for this year has already surpassed the murder toll for last year. In 2016 there were four murders in Tobago. Tobago yesterday recorded its fifth murder for 2017.
With more than eight months still to go in 2017, this year has already recorded the third highest murder toll in Tobago over the last five years
Tobago’s latest murder victim has been identified as Richard Daniel,57, of Thompson Lane, Tunapuna.
According to reports, Daniel was discovered shot in the head, while in the bedroom of an apartment at Hope Trace, Hope shortly after 1 am yesterday.
Police believe that Daniel, a construction worker, who also owns a vegetable stall at Carnbee, was asleep when he was killed.
A co-occupant at the house told police he heard an explosion, but did not check on Daniel.
He ran to a nearby house.
Eventually when he checked on Daniel he found him dead with a wound to his head.
A family friend told the T&T Guardian, Daniel would travel to Tobago every weekend to ply his trade.
Relatives are also shocked over the incident, as they say that he was a law-abiding citizen and were unaware of anyone who wanted to do him harm.
Neighbours also confirmed that they did not hear anything related to the incident
An autopsy is scheduled to be conducted on the body on Monday.
The highest number of murders Tobago has recorded in the last five years is eight.
In 2014 eight murders were recorded.
Tobago Homicide Bureau is continuing investigations.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident another murder was reported in Trinidad.
Dead is Kern Alleyne. According to reports Alleyne was visiting friends in Belmont when he was shot.
Around 8 pm residents of St Francois Valley Road heard multiple loud explosions and upon investigating, discovered Alleyne’s bullet-riddled body.
The police were notified and officers from the Port-of-Spain Division, under the supervision of Snr Sup Hodge Griffith and Snr Sup Boxill, visited the scene.
Alleyne, police said, was known to them as a suspect in several criminal investigations and had even recently been released from prison.
Investigations are continuing.
