PORT OF SPAIN – Days after Trinidad and Tobago Police Commissioner Erla Christopher warned the public about the “misuse” of real looking gel-blaster guns, one man was shot by police in Cunupia early yesterday morning when he aimed the toy at an officer.
Police said that around 12.20 a.m. yesterday Cunupia police responded to a report from the public that six men were seen roaming through the Cunupia area with what appeared to be a mix of assault rifles and handguns.
As officers sped into the area they noticed two men wearing dark clothes running towards them.
The officers withdrew their real guns and shouted at the men to drop theirs.
One did, but the other did not. He instead raised the toy and aimed it at police who discharged their own weapons.
Both men fell to the ground and officers ran up to them to handcuff and secure them. Police said however that in seizing the guns they noticed they were both, black in colour, very light and made of plastic. They then realised that the men were using toys that morning as both guns were identified as gel blasters designed to look like real guns.
The men, which turned out to be a 17-year-old boy and an accomplice (age unknown) were both taken to hospital where he the teenager remained being treated up to last night.
(Trinidad Express)
