A 25-year-old man was shot dead near his Laventille home on Monday evening, raising the murder toll for the year to 235. According to reports around 6.30 pm, residents of Building Four, John John, Laventille, reported hearing gunshots. They told police when they looked outside they saw a gunman chasing after one of the neighbours. A couple minutes later, the residents reported hearing another set of gunshots.
Officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Port-of-Spain CID responded to the area where they found Akeem Baptiste lying in the middle of the road near to the building complex. He had several gunshot wounds about his body, including one to the head. He was pronounced dead on the scene by a District Medical Officer (DMO). Police believe Baptiste was shot several times and when he collapsed, the gunman stood over his body and shot him again.
Investigators said several spent shells from a high-powered gun were found near the scene. Baptiste was well known to police and his killing has been classified as gang-related. Sgt Sheldene Bacchus of the Region One Homicide Bureau is investigating.