A police-involved shooting unfolded in Mayaro on Friday afternoon after officers intercepted a vehicle suspected to be linked to an earlier robbery in Rio Claro.
Around 1:40 p.m. officers received information from the Rio Claro Police about a robbery involving three armed male suspects travelling in a green Nissan Almera, registration, reportedly heading toward the Mayaro district.
Sgt Mohammed, WPC Francis, and PC Meighoo responded along the Naparima–Mayaro Road and spotted the suspect vehicle speeding eastward.
The officer blocked its path, bringing it to a stop.
According to police, the front-seat passenger immediately exited the car and pointed a silver revolver at the officers. Gunshots followed. Sgt Mohammed and PC Meighoo, who had just stepped out of their vehicle, said they feared for their lives and opened fire.
The armed man fled into dense forest off the roadway, continuing to fire as the officers gave chase while issuing commands. The pursuit extended roughly 500 feet into the forest, ending at a river where officers found the suspect attempting to swim across. He was detained without further incident.
Officers of the Rio Claro CID, led by Ag. Sgt Neaves, assisted with a thorough search of the area, but the suspect’s firearm was not recovered.
Police then searched the Nissan Almera in the presence of its three occupants and found three rounds of .38 Special ammunition. None of the men had firearm licences. The suspects were identified a 26-year-old of Sixth Company Road, New Grant, a 40-year-old of Sumanie Trace, Rochard Douglas Road, Barrackpore and a 48-year-old of Nerata Trace, Rousillac, the driver.
They were taken to the Mayaro Police Station.