A family dispute over land has been blamed for the shooting death of a Tunapuna man yesterday by his relative—a police officer on suspension.
Relatives of the dead man, 24-year-old Raj Singh, claimed that less than a month ago the shooter had threatened to kill Singh.
According to police, around 7 am, the officer and his wife were arguing with Singh and other relatives over summons to appear in court today for a charge of obscene language against the officer’s wife.
Police reports stated that there was an altercation at Picton Street Extension, in which the officer claimed he was attacked and used his personal firearm to defend himself.
During the attack, the officer said, he sustained a gash to the face and had to seek medical attention.
Relatives of the dead man disputed the police version of events.
The relatives, including 15-year-old, Brentley Barker, said there is an ongoing dispute between the family over a parcel of land.
At least five members of the extended family had ongoing court cases filed against them by the officer’s wife. Barker said that around 7 am, officers of the Tunapuna Police Station served summons to four members of the family, including himself and Singh to appear in court for using obscene language against the officer’s wife.
Barker said after the summons were handed to them and the officers left there was a “cuss out” between the two opposing families.
The argument ecalated and stones were thrown at each other, Barker said.
After the pelting ceased, the off-duty officer began firing at Singh and others, Barker said as he pointed to a bullet hole in a wall. Singh ran off and was shot to the back of the head, he said.
Relatives believed that they will not get justice as the off-duty officer had been “victimising” them repeatedly and reports to the Tunapuna Police Station were never acted on.
Barker’s father, Sean, said he had visited the Police Complaints Authority twice to file reports about the officer and to date nothing has been done.
The family is hoping for a proper investigation which will not include officers who graduated with the suspended police officer.
In an unrelated killing, police said 36-year-old Curt Dubarry, of Picton Road, Laventille was walking near the Inter-Agency Task Force base along Picton Road when he was ambushed and shot.
Police said the shooting was linked to the ongoing war between the opposing Muslim and Rasta City gangs.
The shooting, police said, took place around 8 am and police later arrested a man from the area in relation to the shooting.
Dubarry, police said, had recently returned to the area after fleeing for some time before.
