A police officer from the Guard and Emergency Branch was shot in the chest while on patrol in East Port of Spain. The incident occurred on July 22 around 8:30 pm. PC Shakala Charles and another officer were responding to a shooting on George Street when gunmen opened fire on their marked police vehicle. Charles, who was in the front passenger seat, was hit by a bullet that penetrated his bulletproof vest.
The injured officer, along with another man named Keron George, was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital. Charles needed emergency surgery and his colleagues were donating blood for the procedure. Police found the vehicle used in the shooting abandoned nearby, with multiple spent shells and an extended 9mm magazine inside.
Speaking on the matter, DCP Suzette Martin emphasized the risks police officers face daily. She expressed concern over the incident and labeled crime as a public health emergency. Martin noted the escalation of criminal activity and assured that law enforcement would respond accordingly. The use of heavy arms in the attack prompted a robust police response, with officers actively searching for the assailants.
