By Alexander Bruzual Friday, September 25 2009

In a space of time just over 12 hours, five men, including an employee of Colonial Life Insurance Company (Clico), were brutally murdered bringing the murder toll to 395.

Dead are Ron Etien, of East Dry River; Clifford Slanders, 25, of Diego Martin; Garth John, 40, of Valsayn; and Garnett Lake, 28, of Bagatelle, Diego Martin and Travis Breedy, 29, of Duncan Street, Port-of-Spain.

At about 7:20 pm on Wednesday, Etien of Techier Terrace, Harpe Place, East Dry River, was gunned down by unknown gunmen while he was liming with friends at Charford Court, Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain.

He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he died. Police have no motives for the shooting as yet, however it was believed to be gang-related.

Shortly before 9 pm on Wednesday, at North West Drive, Patna Village, Diego Martin, gunmen stormed a house and opened fire on its occupants, killing one, and wounding another in the process.

Slanders and Mitchell were both shot at this venue. Slanders died on the spot, while an injured Mitchell was rushed by his neighbours to the St James Medical Complex for treatment. Mitchell is said to be in critical condition.

Three hours later at about 12.30 am yesterday, police discovered a para-legal employee of Clico, murdered in the bathroom of his Flamboyant East Gardens, Valsayn home.

Police officers discovered the body of John after being called in by his neighbours who said they saw his silver Nissan Almera motor car being driven from his home by a stranger. They immediately contacted the police who found John’s body with multiple stab wounds.

Officers believe John may have known his attacker as there were no signs of forced entry and nothing was stolen. Investigations are continuing.

Also yesterday morning, Lake and Breedy were walking along George Street Port-of-Spain, in the vicinity of Eastern Boys Government School when gunmen came out of the building opposite the school and opened fire on them.

Breedy stumbled a short distance across the road and collapsed into a drain. He died on the spot. Lake was able to run to the corner of Prince and George Streets, where he flagged down a vehicle and was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Less than an hour later he died while undergoing treatment.

Kurt Raymond, 30, of Mon Repos, Morvant, who was riding a bicycle along the street at the time of the shooting was shot. He was taken to the PoS General Hospital and is being treated for his injuries.

Officers from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, the Inter Agency Task Force, and Special Anti Crime Unit of TT (SAUTT) responded to the reports of the shooting.

Breedy’s mother, Grace, described her son, a father of three, as a “harden child” who was led astray by the wrong friends.

“As his mother I am not going to lie. The boy never listened to me. He was always following bad company and that bad company has led him to where he is today, in a drain on some road,” Grace said.

Tammy Millar, the mother of Breedy’s oldest son, eight-year-old Shakeem Breedy, described the victim as “cool and normal” and she never knew him to be a “bad boy.”