A wounded suspect in the murder of an off-duty police officer has denied any knowledge of the officer's death and instead claims he was the victim in an unrelated shooting.
Dale Mayers died after he was shot during what police believe was a botched robbery.
Mayers was liming at a bar in Montrose, Chaguanas with his wife and a friend on Monday night when a man entered and announced a hold-up.
Mayers drew his licensed firearm and shot at the man.
The gunman shot back, wounding Mayers.
Mayers, who was last assigned to the Arima Police Station, was taken to hospital where he died while being treated.
A suspect who fitted the general appearance and physical description of the assailant involved in the shooting was held by police hours later while seeking treatment at the Port of Spain General Hospital for a gunshot wound.
Newsday understands the suspect told police he was shot while seated in a car on George Street.
The suspect said he was with a relative when a black SUV pulled alongside their car.
He heard several loud explosions and felt a burning sensation in his shoulder and back and was taken to hospital by his relative.
The suspect is being held under police guard at the hospital.
Mayers death no hit-job
A spokesperson for the bar where Mayers was shot dismissed social media claims that Mayers murder was a hit-job.
'The suspect said it was a robbery. If it was a hit they would have walked in and shot up the place.'
He said Mayers was a 'regular customer' and offered condolences to his family.
'He was always a very warm and engaging individual. He would always bring a smile to your face and engage with everyone around him. This whole situation is very unfortunate, and we hope the perpetrators are brought to justice.'
The spokesperson said the attempted robbery was not the norm in the area as there is usually a high police presence.
A driver who was in the area around the time of the shooting told Newsday they remember seeing a static police patrol parked several hundred metres away from the bar.
The spokesperson, who is a retired senior police officer, said criminal elements though are taking advantage of the few weaknesses in the area.
'For instance there is a track nearby that leads to a back street. On this occasion, and last year when there was another homicide, the criminal elements used this track to access the main road, and conduct their crimes, and disappear. Although the track does serve a purpose to the community, it is also an avenue of easy escape for criminal elements.'
The bar reopened shortly after midday on Tuesday and the spokesperson said despite the unfortunate incident it had no intention of shutting its doors.
'This is a family run business that has been serving Montrose and Chaguanas communities for over 15 years. This bar is like an institution. We don't have trouble from the community, it's people from outside the community who cause trouble.'
He called on the public to work with the police to address crime in TT.
'The crime situatio
