Friday, July 1, 2016. Trinidad and Tobago
Some 228 people have been murdered in the first six months of the year, according to Homicide Bureau of Investigations. This figure is 28 more than for the corresponding period last year.
The most recent victim was Anderson Gomez who was killed on Wednesday night moments after he got into a argument with a group of men over a roulette machine game.
Police said Gomez, of Maturita Extension, Arima, was killed after gunmen ambushed him around 10.30 pm in the car park of the Big Yard Recreation Club. He was shot several times by his attackers and collapsed and died at the scene.
Police said they knew of no motive for his shooting since he was not known to them. However, they believe it may be tied to an argument he had with some men over a roulette machine in the recreation club.
While the Homicide Bureau places the murder tally at 228, the media tally had the toll up to yesterday six short of the police figures.
In statistics compiled from media reports by the Powerful Ladies of T&T (PLOTT), of the 222 murders tallied by the media, Gomez was the 203rd male victim for the year. So far 19 women have been killed.
Guns have been used in most of the murders, to the tune of 76.6 per cent, followed by knives and other sharp objects at 13 per cent.