A man was shot and killed at Trinidad’s Piarco International Airport early Thursday morning, just hours after landing in the country—before he could even exit the airport compound.
According to Trinidad Express, the fatal shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m. near the Arrivals area, where the victim had been walking toward a waiting black SUV. Gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, killing one man and injuring another. The wounded man reportedly fled the scene and made it to the Customs and Excise Unit area.
Police sources told the Express that over 30 spent shells were recovered at the scene, including 5.56mm and 9mm rounds. Officers from the North Central Division and the Homicide Bureau responded to the shooting.
According to Loop News, the person killed was identified as Hakim ‘Sours’ Quash of Maraval.
Airport security personnel described the aftermath as “traumatic,” with terrified passengers abandoning their luggage and scrambling for cover.
One airport worker noted the disturbing timing of the attack, which comes just days after the end of a nationwide State of Emergency (SoE) aimed at curbing gang violence.
“Yuh know the State of Emergency only now done, and already we back to this madness. It real worrying. I not saying SoE is the answer to everything, but at least when it was in effect, the place quiet down,” he said.
Just last week, there had been a fire at the Amerijet warehouse facility located at the south terminal of the airport.
This is the second homicide reported since the SoE officially ended on April 13. The SoE had been enacted on December 30, 2024.
Though the emergency declaration did not impose curfews, it expanded the powers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), allowing for increased searches, seizures, and arrests.
As investigations continue, Thursday’s airport shooting has reignited public concerns over national security and whether additional emergency measures may be needed to stem the tide of violent crime.
