The police are still looking for a suspect in connection with last week’s shooting at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Chavez Toppin, 20, of Nelson Street, was shot twice in the abdomen, and Alexandra Badal, 29, of Barataria, a daily-rated environmental worker at the hospital, was shot in the face. Sileen Maxwell Vialva, 28, a nursing student from Siparia, was shot in the calf.
In a telephone interview, Badal’s mother, Debra Cummings, said her daughter had been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “She is talking now and she is on the ward. The shock is now coming on and I am praying. She is much better and she recognises people, but she is in pain. She can’t eat and the side of her face and throat is swollen. She is on drips,” said Cummings.
After the shooting last week, chairman of the North West Regional Health Authority Eddie Haqq and Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson said added security would be provided at the hospital. Haqq said there were tenders out for a security company. When contacted earlier this week, Haqq said, “We did increase the security and police, as promised, patrolled more often.”
Last week, investigators said they had good evidence to make an arrest. Assistant Supt Ajith Persad is continuing investigations.