Police along the east-west corridor were kept busy over the past 48 hours as three murders occurred in Port-of-Spain and Piarco. In the latest incident, days after he reported to friends that his life was in danger, Patrick Romaine was gunned down by a man who rode up to him on a bicycle at Oropune Gardens, Piarco, yesterday.
A witness who requested anonymity said Romaine, 25, of First Crescent, Oropoune Gardens, Piarco, was walking along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway around 9 am when gunshots rang out. He was struck in the head, chest and back and died on the spot. Residents from the nearby HDC housing estate called in the police and detectives led by Supt Johnny Abraham, Insp Seecharan, Sgt Smith, Cpl Subiah and forensic officers from the Northern Division Homicide Bureau visited the scene.
One of Romaine’s close friends broke down in tears on seeing his body on the road, close to the highway crash railings. The man, who requested anonymity, said Romaine had been living with a woman at Oropune Gardens for about a year, after moving out of his family’s home at El Dorado Road, Tunapuna. “His family had nothing to do with this. We know why this happened. He told us,” the friend said as he wiped away tears.
He said he was very close to Romaine. “We lime together, party together and we would go everywhere together. I know him years now.” He explained that Romaine was never involved in violence but was a mediator whenever conflict arose. “When I was out of a job recently, he was there for me. I cannot believe that they would shoot him so,” the friend added.
Romaine worked as a labourer at the Chester Ramkissoon Hardware, Old Southern Main Road, Curepe. His body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where an autopsy will be done tomorrow. The assailant remains at large. In the first incident, moments after stabbing security guard Dennis Morle to death, a Port-of-Spain labourer was arrested after being struck by a car while fleeing the murder scene on Friday night.
The janitor remains under police guard at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH). He was said to be in a stable condition. Police said Morle, 31, was on duty at the NP Service Station at Richmond Street around 9 pm when he got into an argument with the janitor. The argument escalated and the janitor reportedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Morle once on the chest. The suspect then ran away.
However, while attempting to cross Tragarete Road, the suspect was struck by a passing car. Morle was pronounced dead at the scene but the suspect was taken to hospital. Meanwhile, homicide officers said they were bracing for reprisal attacks after a gang of men opened fire at East Dry River, Port-of-Spain, killing 28-year-old Jamal James and injuring six others.
Police said James was playing dominoes with a group of friends along Telemaque Street, East Dry River, just after 9 pm, when four gunmen approached them. Without warning, the assailants opened fire, shooting James multiple times about his body. Six men between the ages of 22 and 57 were also shot. All six were taken to the PoSGH where they received medical care. Police believe the shooting occurred because of an earlier incident.
Northern Division officers have since stepped up patrols in that area. Investigations are continuing into these latest killings.