March 29, 2024, 03:51:32 AM

Author Topic: No Witnesses or Protesters? Soldier shot dead in Laventille  (Read 2348 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Toppa

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 5518
    • View Profile


A soldier was shot and killed Sunday night in Laventille. Kayode Thomas, 33, of Beverly Hills, Laventille, was driving along Plaisance Road, when he was shot by unknown assailants. Thomas' car crashed and he died at the scene. The killed happened at around 11.30p.m. on Sunday.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Soldier-shot-dead-in-Laventille-265226651.html
www.westindiantube.com

Check it out - it real bad!

Offline Toppa

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 5518
    • View Profile
Re: No Witnesses or Protesters? Soldier shot dead in Laventille
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2014, 10:57:16 AM »
Defence Force hails murdered colleague as a ‘proud and respected member’

By LAVENTILLE \\\\\ Alexander Bruzual alexander.bruzual@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jun 30, 2014 at 9:42 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jun 30, 2014 at 9:42 PM ECT
While driving on his way to visit relatives in Beverly Hills, Laventille, on Sunday night, a soldier with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, 32-year-old Lance Corporal Kayode Thomas, was shot dead.
The murder toll for 2014 now totals 213 compared with 185 for the corresponding period last year.
According to police reports, at about 11.30 p.m. on Sunday, Thomas, while off duty, was driving his silver Mazda 323 motor vehicle north along Plaisance Quarry Road, John John, Laventille, when residents of the area heard several loud explosions.
Upon checking they observed that Thomas’ vehicle had crashed along the roadway and that it bore several bullet holes to the front windscreen and bonnet of the car.
The police and emergency health services were notified and a party of officers from the Inter Agency Task Force, led by PC Richardson, responded to the report.
Upon their arrival, they observed the silver car had come to an awkward stop along the roadway.
The engine of the car, police said, was still running and the headlights were on, and when the officers looked inside the car they observed Thomas’ body slumped against the front passenger seat of the vehicle. He was wearing a grey and red vest, with blue denim pants.
 It is believed Thomas died of his injuries almost instantly after being shot.
Officials from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations led by Superintendent Boxhill were notified and Crime Scene Investigators visited the scene. Over 30 spent shells were said to have been recovered.
Thomas, police said, was identified by his wife.
A district medical officer also visited the scene and ordered Thomas’ body removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James.
Speaking to the media yesterday at the Centre, Thomas’ mother Marva was too emotional to speak and could only bring herself to tell reporters that her son was “a good boy who did not deserve to die the way he did.”
Other relatives, who asked not to be identified, said Thomas was a victim of the “ongoing war” in Laventille.
“It is known gangsters who living up there. The police know them, and they know the police, and the other day with the declaration of war against them, they too decided to declare war against the police and soldiers. That is why we think Kayode hadda pay the piper. They knew who he was. It is not like he was doing anything wrong or anything like that. But them gang men knew what he did for a living and he was targeted because of it,” one relative said.
Relatives also noted that Thomas was the father of eight children, the youngest child born merely two weeks ago.
Thomas’ death comes just after one week after the Defence Force issued a press release saying that it was under attack in certain hot spot areas throughout this country, and also raised concerns with the increase in the number of attacks on its members.
The T&T Defence Force, via a press release yesterday, noted that it was deeply saddened by Thomas’ death, and said it also remained committed to working with the TT Police Service and to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.
In the release, Thomas was described as a “proud and respected member” of the organisation who joined the Defence Force in August, 2004, and served nine distinguished years.
“He completed Basic Recruit Training at Teteron Barracks and was posted to the 1st Infantry Battalion as a Rifle Soldier. The Commanding Officer, Officers, Men and Women of the Regiment extend deepest condolences to the family of the late Lance Corporal Kayode Thomas. May they receive the strength from the Almighty God and the support from relatives and friends during their time of grief,” the release read.
Funeral arrangements for Lance Corporal Thomas will be announced when finalised.
Anyone with information who can assist with investigating this homicide is urged to contact the nearest police station, the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment at 627-2781 or use 800-TIPS. 
 
 
 National Security Minister Gary Griffith said last night if Thomas was killed because of his job, those responsible will feel the full brunt of the law.
Griffith told TV6 News: “I do no intend in any way to accommodate or to bend over to any criminal element in this country and if it is they want a war they would get one. And I would shudder to think that any criminal element would put God past their thoughts in pinpointing law enforcement officers in their criminal activities. If that is the case, then they would be in a war that they cannot win.”

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/SOLDIER-SHOT-DEAD-265311201.html
www.westindiantube.com

Check it out - it real bad!

Offline Toppa

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 5518
    • View Profile
Re: No Witnesses or Protesters? Soldier shot dead in Laventille
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2014, 08:20:02 AM »
NATIONAL Security Minister Gary Griffith yesterday declared the time to talk, to engage criminals in dialogue was over and deadly force by criminals will be met with deadly force law enforcement officials.

In a strongly worded press release, issued yesterday, Griffith said criminals must be made to understand that picking a fight with law enforcement officials and those sworn to uphold the Constitution was a no-win situation.

His release came in the aftermath of the cold-blooded murder of father of seven and soldier Lance Corporal Kayode Thomas. Police said at about 11.30 pm on Sunday, 33-year-old Thomas was driving his car on his way home in Marcano Quarry to Plaisance Road, John John, when rapid gunshots were heard as gunmen surrounded Thomas’ car and opened fire. He died on the scene in the car.

Griffith, in his release, said it has become apparent that criminals are taking the fight to the protectors of the law and the Constitution. He said this will not be tolerated in any form or fashion.

“Every murder is unacceptable and must be condemned at every level. But when organised crime has reached a point of turning guns on members of the justice system and now law enforcement officers, they would feel the force and strength of the Defence Force and law enforcement agencies. If you attack one of them, you attack all,” Griffith warned.

“It is amazing that certain comments with regard to my stand are that there should be more dialogue rather than talk of war. Where was the dialogue when Dana Seetahal was murdered in cold blood? Where is the dialogue when an honourable soldier is killed? Tell that to his seven children that there should have been dialogue.

“Those who keep talking dialogue apparently have not lost a loved one at the hands of these disgusting parasites who call themselves gangsters and kill in cold blood. Talk is over! Deadly force would be met with deadly force,” Griffith vowed.

Griffith is issuing a call to all law-abiding citizens to “heed the clarion call to join hands with our law enforcement and security units to fight for what is rightfully theirs: a place to live, learn, socialise and work in peace and harmony.”


Contacted by Newsday yesterday for comment, Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams said that Lance Cpl Thomas’ murder will not be treated as “just another murder”. The top cop said despite the fact that there have been no leads in the shooting, police are seeing this as an important investigation as a member of the protective services was attacked. Up to press time no arrests had been made and investigations into Thomas’ murder are ongoing. Over 30 spent bullet shells were retrieved by police at the shooting scene of the soldier.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,197037.html
www.westindiantube.com

Check it out - it real bad!

Offline Toppa

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 5518
    • View Profile
Re: No Witnesses or Protesters? Soldier shot dead in Laventille
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2014, 08:26:41 AM »
East Port-of-Spain residents: Masked soldiers assaulting us

The investigation into the murder of Lance Cpl Kayode Thomas continued yesterday with residents of the Beverly Hills and opposing Desperlie Crescent and St Paul Street, East Port-of-Spain, pointing fingers at each other for the crime. Residents of St Paul Street told CNC3 news yesterday following Thomas’ killing soldiers, wearing masks, came into the area and assaulted them.
 
 
They say the masked men could be anyone and were fearful for their lives. The residents claimed they could not be behind the shooting as they could not go into “enemy territory”. Their claim that they were abused had not been reported to the regiment as of 7 pm last night when the T&T Guardian contacted the Regiment communications officer Captain Stefan Affonzo. Affonzo said no report was made to them about the alleged beating and called on anyone who may have suffered at the hands of regiment officers to come forward.
 
 
Affonzo also denied soldiers were patrolling the area by themselves but were with police. However, shortly after 6 am, when the T&T Guardian visited the St Paul Street area a group of soldiers were seen on patrol by themselves. Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, residents of Beverly Hills where Thomas lived denied they were responsible for the shooting and blamed rival gang members.
 
The residents claimed the shooting was unprovoked and random. They said gunmen would have opened fire on any car in the area and unfortunately the father of eight was the target. Also speaking to the media was Thomas’ mother, Marva Thomas, who said her son was undeserving of the death he received. Laughing lustily at any joke “Miss Marva”, as she was referred to, said if she did not laugh she would cry but had to stay strong for her family.
 
She said she could not give her son’s killers the satisfaction of taking her son and her joy. “I can’t give them the two. After I fight to raise him in the right way this is the pay I get. That child was not to go that way,” she said, adding that her next step is to care for her seven grandsons and one granddaughter left by her only son. Thomas said her son would be buried on Monday under full military rites. She added she was visited by MP for the area Marlene Mc Donald but did not wish to divulge what took place during the meeting.
 
According to police reports, around 11.30 pm on Sunday, Thomas was driving along Plaisance Quarry Road, John John, when a group of men stepped in front his Mazda 323 and opened fire.  Thomas, who was heading to the Beverly Hills home of his mother ran off the road and crashed. He died at the scene. Police recovered 30 spent shells at the scene of the shooting. Members of the Homicide Bureau are investigating.
 
One day after Thomas was killed police officers distributed flyers in the Laventille area calling on residents to provide information about the killing confidentially.
 http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-07-02/east-port-spain-residents-masked-soldiers-assaulting-us
www.westindiantube.com

Check it out - it real bad!

Offline FF

  • Board Moderator
  • Hero Warrior
  • *
  • Posts: 7513
    • View Profile
Re: No Witnesses or Protesters? Soldier shot dead in Laventille
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2014, 09:32:23 AM »
This was a friend of mine... a good partner of one my best friend.  :'( :'(

Rest in peace Kayo.
THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES

Offline Toppa

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 5518
    • View Profile
Re: No Witnesses or Protesters? Soldier shot dead in Laventille
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2014, 10:15:58 AM »
This was a friend of mine... a good partner of one my best friend.  :'( :'(

Rest in peace Kayo.

My condolences. :(
www.westindiantube.com

Check it out - it real bad!

 

1]; } ?>