waiting: Relatives of Theodora Ayers, 48, wait outside the Forensic Science Centre, St James for her autopsy yesterday. Ayers was the sister of Senior Superintendent Shurela Morgan Hinds.
FOR the second time in less than a week, a relative of a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has been shot dead.
Theodora Ayers, 48, the sister of a senior superintendent of police attached to the Police Administration building in Port of Spain was shot and killed at her home on Sunday night.
Ayers was the sister of Senior Superintendent Shurela Morgan Hinds.
Police said at about 8 p.m., Ayers and her husband had just arrived at their Mahogany Drive, North Eastern Settlement, Sangre Grande home. Ayers left their car to open the front gate when she was approached by a lone gunman.
Several loud explosions were heard and police said a witness saw the gunman fleeing the scene.
The wounded woman was taken to the Sangre Grande District Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Ayers and her husband were returning from the Tamana Harvest.
A team of officers from the Eastern Division and the Homicide Bureau visited the scene.
The area was cordoned off and several spent shells were recovered from the scene.
Ayers was a nurse, the Express was told.
Up to last night, police had no motive for the killing.
Cpl Mohammed of Homicide Region II is continuing investigations.
Relatives would not comment on Ayers’ murder when approached by the Express yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.
They said they were too distraught to be interviewed.
On July 25, Kareem Sydney, 29, was shot dead while liming at a bar along Sunshine Avenue, San Juan.
Sydney was the brother of a woman police officer, investigators said.
No one has been held in connection with his murder.
Close to home
Speaking to the Express yesterday, one senior officer said he was disappointed in the TTPS, and he believed that this killing, and others, could have been prevented.
“I’m not going to stand here and postulate with you on the circumstances of this incident. But what I will say is that this is the second time in less than a week that the relative of a police officer was killed. The second time in about seven days. Let that sink in. Now I am not going to suggest that it is the Police Service under attack, because as far as I am aware, there is no evidence of that. But what I will say is that the murder rate is high and has been climbing, and not been adequately addressed.
“Now even if you’re looking at something from a statistical angle, the murder rate has only been increasing every year since 2011 (with 354 murders). I believe we had a slight dip in 2014 (403 murders) from the previous year (as 2013 ended with 408 murders). But the point is, every year there are around 400 murders. That means there are around 400 families being affected each year by such a serious event. It was only a matter of time at this rate before it began to hit home. And this is exactly what has happened. It has begun to hit close to home for members of the Police Service. And sad to say, it wouldn’t surprise me if we get more reports similar to this. We need to address this murder rate and crime in general now, before it gets completely out of hand,” the officer told the Express.
Association concerned
Head of the TTPS Social and Welfare Association (TTPSSWA), Inspector Michael Seales told the Express Ayers’ murder had left his organisation very concerned.
“First and foremost, I would like to send condolences to Senior Superintendent Shurela Morgan Hinds and her family. The association will be here sending prayers to the family in their time of need and we will be here for any assistance they need.
“That said, I want to note that this killing has left the association very concerned. From our information this is the second relative of a police officer to lose their life in a week. We have spoken to the acting Commissioner (Stephen Williams) on this issue, and we have raised our concern with him.”
Seales said: “While the association maintains that there is no evidence to support that there is an attack on the Police Service, it would be remiss of us not to note that a trend is appearing to be developing. And this is a serious thing. I have asked the Commissioner that his investigators look at it, if they have not already, through the context of while yes, it is a murder, if there is the possibility that there is a connection between the deaths, and the fact that their relatives are part of the Police Service.”
Ayers’ killing has pushed the murder toll for the year so far to 284.