Two men identified by police as the main suspects in the killing of PC Romel Kerry Douglas were shot dead during a confrontation with officers in Maloney early yesterday.The men were identified as Tyreek De Coteau and Shakeel Martin.Both were taken to the Arima Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival.Police said they seized firearms at the scene.
killed by accomplice:Adetola Ammon, 19.
The operation was spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Suzette Martin and involved a team of Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) officers.The deaths come less than two months after Douglas, 48, was shot and killed during an alleged attempted robbery in Kelly Village, Caroni, on July 28.Douglas, who was attached to the Four Roads Police Station, was off duty and sitting in a car on the corner of Hydraulic Trace and Caroni South Bank Road, Kelly Village, about 11.05 p.m., when a white Nissan Tiida pulled alongside his vehicle.According to police, the occupants of the Tiida tried to rob Douglas.An exchange of gunfire followed and Douglas was shot.First responders found him dead in the vehicle about 11.15 p.m., with gunshot wounds to his body.His licensed firearm was also allegedly taken during the incident.One of the alleged bandits, 19-year-old Adetola Ammon, of Arima, was also shot and killed during the incident.Police believed Ammon was shot by one of his accomplices.The Nissan Tiida was later found abandoned.A manhunt was subsequently launched for the remaining suspects.On August 11, Hassan “H-Man” Johnson, 18, another man wanted in connection with Douglas’ killing, was shot dead during a confrontation with police at his girlfriend’s home in Matura.Police heard Johnson was hiding at the two-bedroom house at the seven-and-three-quarter-mile mark, Main Road, Mora Trace, Matura.Officers from the Home Invasion Team, Special Investigations Unit, Western Division Gang Unit, South-Western Division Gang Unit, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations Team, together with members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, surrounded the house.Police said when officers entered through a door on the eastern side, Johnson opened fire at them. Police said the officers returned fire, striking him several times.Johnson was taken to the Sangre Grande Hospital where he was pronounced dead around 11.55 p.m.A 19-year-old man and Johnson’s girlfriend were also inside the house but were not injured. They were detained.Johnson was believed to have been staying away from his home in Second Street, Printeryville, Arima, since Douglas’ killing.With the deaths of De Coteau and Martin, the number of men identified by police as suspects in Douglas’ killing who have since died in shootings has increased to four.Douglas was laid to rest on August 6 following a funeral service at the Morvant Central Community Centre, Cipriani Street, Morvant.During the service, he was remembered as a family-oriented man who was deeply committed to his loved ones.Third man killed by policeMeanwhile, a third man was fatally shot by police yesterday after he allegedly shot at them in Carapichaima.Police said officers of the TTPS Anti-Extortion Unit were investigating allegations of extortion at a house in Palm Avenue, Orangefield Settlement, when there was a confrontation around 4 a.m.A report stated that as officers entered the property, an occupant fired at them.The report said officers responded, hitting the occupant, who was later identified as 36-year-old Riyad Sean Ali.Ali, who was hit in the chest, was taken to the Chaguanas District Health Facility where he was pronounced dead, police said.A firearm was found at the scene.Investigators said officers entered the house and found an elderly woman, Ali’s mother, hiding in a bedroom.Police detained Ali’s brother, pending further investigations.
