The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service says it is thoroughly investigating an incident where a woman was killed by a stray bullet during a shootout between police and bandits. This was confirmed during a police media briefing on Monday.
Investigators are looking into the incident where a 36 year old woman was killed in Beetham Gardens on Saturday. The assurance given by members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service during a media briefing on Monday. Sharida Ali was fatally struck in the head by a bullet when police were reportedly chasing bandits along the Beetham Highway.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Junior Benjamin highlighted however that despite the ongoing crime situation the TTPS has witnessed a reduction in murders across the majority of station districts.
“In the Port of Spain Division, we have four murders compared to eight last year.
Southern Division, one compared to two last year. Western Division, two compared to four. Northern Division, Northern North, we have three compared to three. North Central, we had zero compared to seven. Central Division, we have one compared to five and also in North Eastern Division, we had two compared to three and Tobago, one compared to two”
ACP Richard Smith said the TTPS is working diligently to tackle crime in areas where there has been an uptick.
“You know any murder is too much for us, any murder at all. We know that we are in the SOE and we know that persons expect that there would be no murders. We expect that as well but it’s happening. We know we are trying our best. Rome wasn’t built in a day but we are in fact working assiduously in getting there as it relates to murders and even other violent crimes”
The TTPS said the country’s murder toll, as of Monday morning, January 20th, stood at 18, compared to 34 in 2024.