A man and a woman were shot and killed in front of their toddler by a gunman outside their home in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago. The brazen afternoon attack claimed the lives of 38-year-old Devaughn Toussaint and Amily Hanandez.
Police said the double murder unfolded at a play park near Toussaint’s townhouse at Jade Court in Lisa’s Gardens last Friday. The attack, described as an ambush, began when a grey Toyota Corolla drove up to them around 2:30 p.m.
Police said the gunman, wearing a dark grey hoodie and grey track pants, exited the vehicle. A report from Trinidad Express says he first shot Toussaint four times while the father was holding the child and then opened fire at Hanandez, hitting her several times.
However, a nearby CCTV that recorded the deadly encounter shows Toussaint and Hanandez standing near a black vehicle while the child seemingly plays a few feet away. The gunman suddenly comes running toward Toussaint with his gun pointing at him and discharges the weapon multiple times. Toussaint attempts to flee with Hanandez running near him, but the gunman takes him down.
The gunshots spark panic and screams from those in the park, including their child, whom Hanandez turns back to grab. When she tries to flee with the child, they stumble and fall. Before Hanandez could get up, the gunman ran up to her and shot her at least twice as the terrified toddler screamed.
The footage ends just as the gunman appears to be fleeing the scene, while the crying child runs away. According to the report, the father died at the scene, and the mother succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
After shooting the parents, the gunman returned to his vehicle, and the car fled the housing community, leaving the child unharmed. Authorities also reported that Toussaint was previously jailed for firearm-related charges.
Investigations into the double homicide have since been launched by the Homicide Bureau of Region Three, Couva CID and Central Division Task Force.
