The manhunt continues for the remaining two men involved in the deadly robbery at Pennywise in La Romaine yesterday, which resulted in the deaths of two Allied Security Services guards and the serious wounding of a third.
Executives from Allied Security Services are expected to hold a press conference at 9 am today (Tuesday, September 20) to discuss yesterday’s horrific events and the impact on their employees who were killed and seriously wounded.
In an official statement, Pennywise Cosmetics Limited said its La Romaine Plaza facilities will remain closed today, "...as a sign of respect, so that our staff may get some time to focus on their mental health..."
Guardian Media understands that at the time of this report, Peola Baptiste, the female security officer who came under attack in the deadly heist is still fighting for her life at hospital.
Her colleagues—security officers Jerry Stewart 49, and Jeffrey Peters, 51, succumbed to gunshot wounds shortly after five gunmen attacked them outside Pennywise Plaza around 5 pm on Monday.
The Nissan Xtrail which the bandits abandoned at June Development, La Romaine. [Image by KRISTIAN DE SILVA]
The white Nissan Sylphy used by the bandits during the heist was found torched along the M2 Ring Road. In a video of the shooting, the robbers' intent to kill was evident, as they blocked the white Mitsubishi 4X4 pickup occupied by the security officers and began firing at close range without warning, uncaring of the motorists and shoppers who were around.
PC Ragbir and PC Meah, who were first on the scene of the shooting, alerted the TTPS Command Centre and police quickly mobilised to track the white car, registration no PCW 9467.
It was then spotted heading in a southerly direction and police followed in pursuit. San Fernando CID officers arrived at the plaza and rushed the injured security officers to the San Fernando General Hospital. Peters, the driver, died at the scene.
While Pennywise officials locked the store and kept customers and workers safe inside, Emergency Rapid Response officers, including PC Ali, pursued the thieves. They found the getaway car on fire at La Romaine near the Army base.
A Crime Scene Investigator places markers outside the pickup which was being used by the security officers outside the Pennywise Super Centre compound on Monday. [Image by KRISTIAN DE SILVA]
After torching their car, the six bandits stopped a passing white Nissan X-trail, hijacked the owner and then used the vehicle to flee to La Romaine, where known criminals are living at Pond Street and George Street.
Police pursued the Xtrail and the occupants fired at them.
In a video circulating online, the six bandits were seen abandoning the Xtrail and fleeing through a track at June Development, La Romaine. They were not carrying the money at the time.
Police said they ran to the Jones Street area, where they barricaded themselves in a house. Officers of the Southern Division Task Force and the Guard and Emergency Branch responded and breached the house while Emergency Rapid Response Units and other officers took up strategic positions to secure the location.
In a video circulating on social media of the shooting, over 20 gunshots were heard as the officers were fired upon by the robbers.
After the shooting ended, all four bandits lay dead and a fifth was being hunted. The police helicopter was called in to assist in the search. At least two robbers remain on the run.
Guardian Media will bring you more as this story develops.