Police kill 2 bandits in daylight shootout in St James

Police at crime scene in St James

Police shot and killed two men Sunday who were trying to rob a supermarket in St. James. 

According to local media reports officers of the Western Division Task Force responded to a report of a robbery in progress at Tony's Food Mart at Dundonald Hill, St James.

The media reports say the bandits tried to escape when the lawmen arrived, firing shots at the police as they fled the scene in different directions. The police returned fire, inflicting the fatal shots. Both suspects were taken to the Port of Spain general hospital where they were pronounced dead.

The head of the divsion, Senior Superintendent Derrick Trim, called the officers heroes although he was quick to point out that the intention was not to kill anyone.

"If not for the quick response of the officers, the supermarket could have been robbed and the employees inside could have been killed...We are not advocating killing, but the officers did what they had to do to manage the situation," the Trinidad Express quoted him as saying.

National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy made a commitment in his New Year message to the nation to deal with crime.

"I give you my firm and sincere commitment that the Ministry of National Security and your Government will win this war on crime and that we will leave no stone unturned in this thrust," Sandy stated.

"I remain convinced that as we mobilise our communities and with the help of every law-abiding citizen, with the unwavering commitment of the Ministry of National Security and all its divisions, we can win this war against crime and restore Trinidad and Tobago to its place of pride among our Caribbean nations and indeed the international community."