Senior Reporter
shane.superville@guardian.co.tt
One day after four people, including an innocent businesswoman, were killed during an attack in their neighbourhood, Valsayn residents say they are too fearful to walk outside their homes over concerns there may be a reprisal.
On Wednesday afternoon, gunmen opened fire on a car along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in St Augustine, in an attempt to kill local Trinibad artiste Kashif “K Man 6ixxx” Sankar. Investigators said the shooting happened when the car Sankar was in stopped at the UWI lights.
In a bid to escape the attackers, Sankar’s entourage sped off but crashed into a shipping container on the westbound lane of the highway in Valsayn.
Security camera footage of the incident shared on social media showed gunmen pursuing two of the men before killing them.
While Sankar survived the attack, Damien Criss, Levi Criss and Jerry Hollingsworth, who were also in the car, were killed. The three murdered men were all from east Port-of-Spain.
Businesswoman Lana Sahadeo, 51, who was inside her home nearby at the tim, was struck by a stray bullet when she opened her curtains to look outside.
When Guardian Media visited the neighbourhood yesterday, wreckage from the crash was still at the scene, while bullet holes were visible on a nearby wall and the window pane on Sahadeo’s home.
Few people were seen walking outside the home, as many residents preferred to stay inside in the aftermath of the murders.
One resident, who spoke under condition of strict anonymity, said she heard of the incident while at her son’s home nearby and was shocked at how quickly the incident happened.
“I got a phone call from a neighbour saying it had gunmen in the area and that they were jumping over neighbours’ walls. Then we heard that someone peeped out when she got a stray bullet.
“I couldn’t even eat. I told him that I normally go to the grocery, which is right around where it happened. I’m afraid because you don’t know when someone can come in the area.
“I could be in the grocery here one day and someone comes in and starts shooting.”
Another resident who asked not to be named said he was a lifelong Bassie Street resident but noted that issues of crime and violence were an increasing concern in recent years.
Referring to the murder of Akel Modeste in August, the resident said people in the neighbourhood were usually hesitant to venture out after dark even to dispose of garbage, and noted that the latest quadruple murder only added to the panic.
Pointing to the track parallel to the highway where two of the murdered men were chased and eventually killed by gunmen, the resident said the area had been avoided by residents since the shooting.
“I used to take my granddaughter for a walk in the grassy part you’re seeing there when she finishes with school, now I can’t even do that. People don’t want to be anywhere near there to be honest,” the resident said.
“Even though they (the victims) didn’t intend to crash here… it shows how anywhere could be the scene of a murder.”
The resident added that one of his neighbours, an elderly woman with a heart condition, was severely affected after hearing the gunshots and had to be hospitalised.
Residents said Sahadeo was known for her warm, friendly demeanour and her passion for cooking in her small Silver Spoons restaurant on the Southern Main Road, Curepe.
Sahadeo’s eatery was featured on an episode of local food reviewers’ Foodie Nation, who visited to taste her ‘fish choka’ dish.
When Guardian Media visited the restaurant it was locked up.
Nearby business owners said they were shocked and saddened to hear about her passing and remembered her as a pleasant business neighbour who attracted customers with her breakfast items.
“A lot of people used to be out there from as early as 5 am to get something to eat,” one nearby business owner said.
“She worked very hard and would be out there to serve her customers, she only closed off last week for Christmas, I heard what happened on Wednesday and still can’t believe it.”
Speaking with Guardian Media at his office at the St Joseph Police Station yesterday, North-Central Division head, Snr Supt Richard Smith, said he was aware of the concerns of residents but assured them there would be a heightened police presence in the area to restore a sense of safety.
He noted the attack was well-organised by the gunmen and suspected the attackers paid close attention to Sankar’s social media posts to keep track of when he arrived in Trinidad. Smith condemned the brazen nature of the killings, noting that criminals operated in disregard to innocent bystanders.
“What they did on Wednesday was nothing to glorify, what they did was an act of cowardice. The people who were travelling in the vehicle were not armed. They just came and killed them,” Smith said.
“This bullet killed the woman who was standing by their window. It was simply coward people walking up to unarmed people to shoot them.”
Smith said police from the gang intelligence units in different divisions were activated and are now working closely with neighbouring divisions, particularly in the Port-of-Spain Division, to find the perpetrators. He urged the killers to turn themselves in.
“Come in with your attorneys because we are coming for you. Make it easy on yourselves.”
