Trinidad: Gang-related shooting claims 2 lives in double murder tragedy

Trinidad and Tobago has recorded its 12th double murder after two men were shot and killed in Enterprise on Monday, May 20, 2024, during a gang-related shooting incident. 

According to the reports, the deceased has been identified as 27-year-old Mickell Gittens and 31-year-old Kervaughn Vincent, also known as Gaza. Both the victims were residents of Bhagaloo Trace extension, Enterprise.

It was also reported that another man, identified as 19-year-old Ronaldo Burton, also known as Papi of Dass Trace Extension, Enterprise, was also injured during the shooting incident. 

While telling about the incident, one of the police officers said that around 9:20 pm on Monday, two warring gangs opened fire on each other in Gittens Lane. During the shooting, Vincent, Gittens, and Burton got injured, following which the officials were called upon the incident. 

The police and emergency health services, along with first responders PC Celestine and WPC Andrews, both attached to the Cunupia Police Station, observed Gittens on the roadway, lying in a pool of blood and bleeding continuously from gunshot wounds.

The officers were also told that Burton and Vincent were already rushed to a nearby hospital and they subsequently placed Gittens in the police van and took him to the Chaguanas District Health Facility. Upon arrival, the police officers were informed that Vincent was brought in but had succumbed to his injuries a few minutes after arrival. 

Meanwhile, Gittens and Burton were shifted to Mt. Hope Hospital, where the former was pronounced dead, and the latter was listed to be in critical condition. 

Also, W/Cpl Gomez, Pc Goodridge, and Pc Massiah of the Central Division Gang Unit conducted investigations and secured the scene. On the other hand, Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region 3 Crime Scene Personnel PC Young and Wpc Edwards recovered ten 9mm spent casings, One live 5.56 ammo, and Six 5.56 spent casings during investigations. 

It is to be noted that on Friday, October 27, 2023, Kervaughn Vincent’s brother Dwayne Charles, aged 32, was gunned down alongside Keston Lawrence, aged 30, and Francis Munroe, aged 40, while attending a wake at the Orange Field Road.

It was said that around 12:35 am, the victims were attending a wake of a 40-year-old man who died of natural causes when the gunmen appeared and started shooting, killing the three.