The lone survivor in last Thursday’s incident, in which three men were shot and killed by police during a shoot-out in Morvant, has spoken to police for the first time since his arrest. The 31-year-old suspect, of Second Caledonia in Morvant, spoke with officers of the North-Eastern Division on Saturday, while in custody at Morvant Police Station. He is expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate today, charged with possession of a Glock pistol, a .38 revolver, ammunition and shooting at police with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Police said the man told them he was grateful to be alive, and promised to change his life.

But Joel Romain, 19, a former national junior sprinter, Kerwin “Lal” Joseph, 24, and Akee Caballero, 27, all of Second Caledonia, were not as fortunate as this suspect. The victims died while undergoing emergency surgery at hospital. Another man, who was not with them, but was shot in the leg by police while running through a track, remained warded in stable condition at Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Autopsies are expected to be conducted today at the Forensic Sciences Centre. Shortly after the shooting, police said the suspect was taken to hospital, where he was treated for shock.

Investigators said after the suspect’s car had crashed near the Church on the Rock, the detained suspect jumped out of the car, held his hands in the air and surrendered. While being taken to Port-of-Spain General Hospital, police said the man kept feeling various parts of his body to see if he was shot. “Apparently, he was suprised he was not injured and he was alive.
“We are not in the business of killing people. Our duty is to ‘protect and serve’ the public. ‘We try our utmost best to apprehend suspects without the use of gunfire,” an officer assigned to the North-Eastern Division Task Force told The Guardian yesterday.

Police also disputed other newspaper reports (not the Guardian) which claimed that three firearms were recovered, a high-speed chase with the suspects started in Maloney, the detained suspect was shot and critically injured, and the car used by the suspects was stolen. Police said those reports were false. Officers said they were on mobile patrol along the Eastern Main Road, near Morvant Junction, around 11 pm, when they spotted the men in the vehicle and called on them to surrender. A high-speed chase ensued, followed by a shoot-out at Caledonia. Police said they had received information that the occupants of the vehicle were involved in the murder of Ryan Rivers, 24, who was shot and killed near his Samaroo Village, Arima, home, one hour earlier.