An officer assigned to the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) is in serious condition and is in need of a blood transfusion after he and others tried to stop gunmen in east Port-of-Spain on Monday night.
Police said the incident began when a 26-year-old Diego Martin man was driving his silver Mazda 323 car out of the carpark of an apartment complex on St Paul Street around 8.40 pm when he noticed two gunmen dressed in black standing on the street.
The gunmen shot the man several times in his face and chest before getting into a silver Suzuki Landy.
Officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB), were on patrol nearby and heard the gunfire.
On reaching the scene, the officers saw the silver Suzuki car, however, gunmen turned their attention to the police vehicle and shot at the officers, hitting PC Charles in his chest.
The officers' colleagues drove him to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was treated for wounds to his chest and back.
He was transferred to another health facility early on Tuesday morning.
The wounded Diego Martin man was also taken to hospital by residents where he underwent emergency surgery and was listed as being in critical condition as of Tuesday morning.
Officers of the Special Evidence Recovery Unit (SERU) found 47 spent 5.56 shells and 37 spent 9 mm shells at the scene.
Police from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) also found the getaway vehicle used by the gunmen between Nelson and Duncan Streets.
Officers found spent shells and a rifle magazine in the car.
The violence in Port-of-Spain continued early into Tuesday morning when a team of officers from the GEB received information that a suspect involved in the shooting was at a house on Production Drive, Sea Lots.
The officers went to the house around 1 am and entered a room where they were reportedly confronted by a man known only as 'Johnny'.
The man who was wielding a cutlass chopped one of the officers on his helmet, as the other policemen shot the attacker several times.
The man was taken to Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was declared dead.