City Corp labourer gunned down near job site

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A street labourer employed with the San Fernando City Corporation was gunned down near his job site yesterday.

Atiba Jacob, 36, of Pleasantville Terrace, was shot several times by his attackers and died along Thurton Street, San Fernando. Police said around 9 am, Jacob was inside his vehicle in a car park when the occupants of a silver Cube began firing shots at him. He ran out of his car but his killers pursued him and continued firing, even after he collapsed. The assailants fled the scene in their vehicle and Jacob’s car. Investigators found over 35 spent shells on the scene.

Police later discovered Jacob’s bullet-riddled car abandoned near the San Fernando Licensing Office and the assailants’ vehicle was found burnt out in a track off Prince Albert Street, Pleasantville.

Police said Jacob, a father of three, had been previously charged with narcotic-related offences. Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind his killing.

Relatives declined to speak with the media yesterday. However, San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello expressed condolences to Jacob’s family. He said he was hopeful that the assailants would be brought to justice. The mayor also appealed to the public not to resort to violence to resolve conflict.

“I want to appeal to the young men to control your temperament, control your anger and do not use guns to solve problems and conflict,” he said, advising killers to consider that their actions would result in a child losing a father and a family being deprived of its sole breadwinner in some cases.

Visiting the scene were Supt Dhilpaul, Insp Bisnath, Sgt Ishmael, WPC Sylvester, WPC Mark, PC Sirjusingh and other officers of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations and Southern Division. An autopsy is expected to be done at the Forensic Science Centre. Investigations are continuing.