Residents of the North Eastern Settlement in Sangre Grande, staged a fiery protest earlier Tuesday after a man was shot dead by police during the early hours of the morning.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) says the man had pointed a gun at them.
In a media release this afternoon, the TTPS said at 4.30 am, officers of the Eastern Division Gang and Intelligence Unit as well as officers attached to the Eastern Division Task Force proceeded to two houses located in North Eastern Settlement, Sangre Grande, to execute warrants for firearms and ammunition and to seize electronic devices.
Upon arrival at one of the locations, a team of officers met a female in the living room of the house.
Police subsequently entered a bedroom of the house where they allegedly observed one male who reportedly pulled out an object resembling a firearm and pointed it in the direction of one of the officers.
According to the release: “The officer, believing that his life and that of the other officers were in imminent danger and in keeping with Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s Use of Force Policy, fired at the male suspect causing him to fall.”
Police allegedly recovered a .38 revolver, five rounds of .38 and a quantity of cannabis were also found. A camera bulb was also seized.
The male suspect has since been identified as 33-year-old Brandon De Gale who was rushed to the Sangre Grande Hospital by police where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The female occupant of the house was arrested and is currently in police custody at the Sangre Grande Police Station assisting with investigations.