‘Criminals under pressure’ | Local News

CRIMINALS are under sustained pressure from police and it is forcing desperate reactions.

So said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Suzette Martin as she responded to yesterday’s killing of Anthony Francis in Wallerfield.

Francis’ pregnant wife and another man were in­jured during the incident.

Asked about the murder in the face of an ongoing state of emergency (SoE), Martin said: “What you are seeing is a direct response from criminals who are under sustained pressure. The TTPS has increased operations, disrupted networks, and removed weapons from the streets, and that pressure is for­cing despe­­rate reactions.”

She added, “We are not backing down. In fact, these incidents strengthen our resolve. Our ope­rations will continue, and they will intensify.”

Saying there will be an immediate surge in police presence in the Wallerfield area, with more targeted operations and greater intelligence-led interventions, Martin said police were pursuing strong leads.

“Let me also send a clear message. There is no safe space for criminals, whether in public or in private homes. TTPS will find you and we will not allow crimi­nal elements to dictate the narrative or undermine the work being done under the SoE,” she said via WhatsApp.

Asked about the SoE, she said, “The state of emergency is working. It is disrupting criminal activity, restricting movement, and allowing us to act with greater speed and authority. The public may not see every success, but the results are there: arrests, firearm seizures, and the dismantling of criminal operations.”

Martin said it was the police who remained in control, and they were not measuring success based on isolated incidents but measured it by the sustained pressure they were applying and the long-term impact on crime.

“We are focused, we are relentless, and we will continue to take the fight to those who threaten public safety,” she said.

Shot dead

while sleeping

Yesterday morning’s incident occurred one week after a sleeping baby and his father were killed in St James in an unrelated incident.

Police said that around 2 a.m., Francis, alias “Smalls”, his pregnant wife and her one-year-old son from a previous relationship were asleep at their home off Moonan Road, Wallerfield, when the gunman struck.

Police believe the killer stuck a gun through a window in the bedroom of the house, took aim and fired.

Francis was struck multiple times in the chest and neck.

His wife was also struck, but her injuries were said to be non-life threatening.

The baby was not injured.

Two spent shells were found near to where he had been sleeping.

According to police, another man, identified only as “Lijah”, who was in a room next to the couple, was also shot.

Neighbours who heard the gunshots contacted police, and officers from the Valencia Police Post responded and took all three victims to the Sangre Grande Hospital where Francis was pronounced dead on arrival.

Francis’ wife and the other man were treated at the hospital and were undergoing treatment last night.

Police said Francis had been recently released from custody following an investigation into the damage of several cars in the Wallerfield area. He was initially a suspect but following questioning, was released.

The Express reached out to La Horquetta/Talparo MP Phillip Watts yesterday for comment on the incident but did not receive a response.

In last week’s incident, a gunman opened fire on the Dundonald Hill, St James, home of 25-year-old Joseph Sutton, killing him and his 11-month-old son, Jayden, who was four days away from his first birthday.

A relative of Sutton who heard the gunshots ran over to check on them and found both father and son severely injured.

They were taken to the Port of Spain Gene­ral Hospital where both were pronounced dead on arrival.

Similar to yesterday’s shooting in Wallerfield, the assailant stuck a gun through the window of the bedroom and opened fire.

The murder toll for the year thus far stood at 96 last night.

The comparative figure for the same period last year was 106.