Relatives of 19-year-old Ray Phillips of Richplain, Diego Martin, claim he was ambushed and killed by police. However, police say Phillips and other members of a gang opened fire on them so they had to return fire. Police said officers from the Western Division were on patrol near the hills at Upper Richplain at about 11.30 pm on Thursday when a group of men started shooting at them. They fired back and Phillips was later found lying in the bush nearby.
He was taken to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Cocorite where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police said Phillips had a 9 mm gun and a walkie-talkie. They also said Phillips belonged to a gang in the area and was known to them. Speaking with T&T Guardian yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, one of Phillips' close relatives, who wished not to be identified, said Phillips was approached by a police officer and shot in the leg.
“While he was the ground he began begging the police not to kill him because he have a child and then the police walked up to him and shot him twice in the chest. They then dragged him away, put him in the police vehicle and drove off.” The relative insisted Phillips did not have a gun and did not shoot at the police. He added: “It have eyewitnesses who see everything and willing to come out and talk. I saw the officer talking to the senior and everybody saw it was him who pull the trigger.”
The relative said he believed Phillips was killed because he associated with the wrong company. “He tried to be good and to make himself someone. He got a job and was working and sacrificing to build up a house for his family. He was a very straightforward person,” he added. The relative said the family was now seeking justice and would be getting legal advice on their next step against the police. Investigations are continuing.
