A 21-year-old man from Quarry Road, Valencia, who was the main suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of police officer Marlone Mitchell, surrendered to officers of the Freeport Police Station last evening.
A release from the T&T Police Service (TTPS) said the suspect walked into the station with his lawyer at 4 pm and was later taken for medical attention, pending further investigations by detectives.
Police also reportedly seized the dead officer’s firearm.
Mitchell, who was off-duty at the time, was shot multiple times around 1 am outside Lolita Bar, Southern Main Road, Mc Bean Village, Couva.
The father of two, a girl, 15, and a nine-year-old boy, was reportedly liming with friends when he allegedly got into an altercation with another patron, who witnesses claimed had been insulting and verbally abusing a female who was part of Mitchell’s group.
It is believed Mitchell went to her defence and urged the group to leave as the suspect’s behaviour escalated. Eyewitnesses claimed during a scuffle between Mitchell and the suspect, the suspect managed to wrestle his licensed firearm away from him and turned the gun on Mitchell, shooting him several times in the chest with several people nearby.
The suspect also stole the officer’s firearm as he fled the area.
Officers on mobile patrol responded and found Mitchell’s body near vehicles parked outside the bar.
Senior officers from the Central Division and officers of the Homicide Bureau and CSI visited the scene.
Hours earlier, Mitchell’s mother defended his character, insisting something had to have happened to push him into adopting a combative stance when he was shot dead with his own gun.
Marva Henry said, “My son was not an aggressor!” He was a humble guy. He would make the peace in everything and he would be the first to say let’s go, forget that.”
Speaking with reporters at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, as the autopsy was being done, she described Mitchell as a dedicated family man.
Defending him against the slanderous online reports which circulated after the shooting, Henry said, “You can talk to my entire family and they will tell you he don’t get into trouble. He would walk away from that. That is not who he is.”
She added, “I talk to my children every day. I pray with them every day.”
She said Mitchell had been working hard to complete his house in Las Lomas.
“He takes good care of his family. He don’t even complain if he doesn’t have anything. That is not who he is. He is a humble, humble guy.”
She dismissed claims that Mitchell was attempting to show off. Rather, Henry said he was the comedian in the family, always making them laugh and wanting to cook something whenever they got together. She pulled up a family picture of her children and grandchildren in Tobago on Boxing Day, as she declared, “That is how we spend time ... we are family people. Anybody hearing this would be real shocked.”
Acknowledging Mitchell’s job was a hard one and it was always a case of damned if you do and damned if you don’t, Henry said she would leave the matter in the hands of God, who would ensure justice is served.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher extended condolences to the officer’s family.
“During this difficult time, our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences are extended to Cpl Mitchell’s family, friends, and colleagues as they navigate through this painful loss,” Harewood-Christopher said, adding, “We stand in solidarity with them, offering our unwavering support as they mourn the loss of their loved one.”
T&T Police Service Social and Welfare Association’s Insp Gideon Dickson also offered condolences to the family, batchmates and co-workers.
“This matter will be solved,” he assured.