Police were up to late yesterday probing two more murders in Valencia and Princes Town late Sunday.
The victims are labourer Mahendra Moonsammy of Princes Town, who was fatally stabbed at a car wash outlet and Kelvin Lake, 26, of Bertrand Street, Valencia, who succumbed to gunshot wounds at the Sangre Grande Hospital.
Police said Moonsammy, 25, of Moruga Road, Petit Café, went to Keylan’s Car Wash, obliquely opposite his home, around 5 pm. They were told that he usually hung out there and on that afternoon, he went to meet a man who had owed him money for an excursion. While there, an altercation broke out and when relatives looked, they saw the suspect striking Moonsammy, who then ran home and collapsed.
Witnesses told police the suspect, who only moved to the area months ago, stabbed Moonsammy several times. Another account was that Moonsammy first struck the suspect with a bottle.
Moonsammy was taken to the Princes Town District Health Facility and around 6.15 pm. He died while being treated. Police said he had previous charges for ammunition and narcotics possession, and the area where he was stabbed was a known drug block. Residents concurred that drugs were being sold in the area and they would try to avoid the men who hung out there.
His sister, Sarah Sotio-Moonsammy, admitted to Moonsammy’s behaviour and that he was told to stay away from the car wash.
Police also reported that around 11.10 pm on Sunday, Lake was at a christening of his friend’s child at KP Lands, Valencia, when he was accosted by armed men. They opened fire on him. The men left on foot believing Lake had died.
Those attending the Christening had to run for cover for fear of being shot, some went under tables while others ran out into the road.
He underwent emergency surgery but died.
Visiting the scene were ASP Mario Robain, Sgt Ramkisson, Cpl Samaroo, PCs William, Lindsay, Samuel, Williams of Valencia Police Post and Homicide officers from Region 11, Arouca.
Those killings took the murder toll to 257.
RALPH BANWARIE
