Senior Reporter
shane.superville@guardian.co.tt
Almost two weeks after four siblings, including three children, were murdered in their beds at their La Retreat Extension, Heights of Guanapo home, police have detained three “persons of interest”.
Just after 12 on the morning of September 21, ten-year-old Faith Peterkin, 14-year-old Arianna Peterkin, 17-year-old Shain Peterkin and Tiffany Peterkin, 19, were asleep at their home when they were shot and killed. Five other relatives, including two 14-year-olds, were wounded in the attack.
The siblings’ murders sparked nationwide outrage and a firm police response with patrols, surveillance exercises and searches in several parts of Arima.
Police sources said these searches led to the capture of three men who may have information on the quadruple murders.
The arrests were the result of an early morning raid at a shed in Aripo on Monday. Officers from the Pinto Road Police Post and Northern Division Task Force visited a house off Morne Pouis Road, Aripo, at 3.30 am where they found three men—ages 34, 24 and 21 years —who were wanted in connection with several shootings, woundings and murders in Arima.
Police also searched the area and found an AK-47, a Beretta pistol, 39 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, ten rounds of 5.56 ammunition and 34 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The trio was in police custody up to yesterday afternoon and was expected to be questioned by officers from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region II about various crimes including the murders of the Peterkin siblings.
When Guardian Media visited the wooden shed where the men were found yesterday, nearby residents said they did not even know people there until they saw a large police presence in their neighbourhood the day before. A woman, who asked not to be named, said the men were not from the area.
“It’s strange but then again, I don’t go around and look to see who is around and who isn’t. I really just keep to myself and hope for the best,” she said.
Police sources believe the three men could have information about the murders of the Peterkin siblings and other crimes in Arima.
Early on the morning of September 16, one week before the Peterkin siblings were murdered, Justin Pereira was gunned down on Dump Road, Arima. Hours later, another man, Josiah James, was shot and killed as he walked along the Eastern Main Road in Maturita.
Referring to a shooting on Sunday night that led to the wounding of two men, a senior officer said police suspect it was a reprisal for the murder of Josiah James.
Investigators said the guns found at the shed where the men were arrested will be sent to the Forensic Science Centre for analysis and tracing to see what information could be found.
Guardian Media also visited La Retreat Extension yesterday, the neighbourhood where the Peterkin siblings were killed, but few people were seen outside.
The family’s house was locked. There were not even any signs of pets.
One woman in the area said the family no longer lived at the house. She said while marked police vehicles continued to patrol the area many residents were still fearful.