Shots fired at police in Pointe-à-Pitre following robbery of elderly women in Trois-Rivières
Suspects identified in a vehicle linked to a robbery opened fire on police officers in Pointe-à-Pitre. One individual has been arrested, with three others remaining at large.
Gunfire and chase following robbery of elderly women in Guadeloupe
According to guadeloupe.franceantilles.fr, it was during the night of 8 to 9 October that police officers from the specialised ground unit (BST) in Pointe-à-Pitre spotted a vehicle already flagged in connection with an assault committed on Wednesday morning in Trois-Rivières. The car had been filmed during the robbery of two elderly women, with images subsequently shared on social media.
Upon seeing the police, the occupants fled through the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre. Near the Centre of the Arts, four individuals in the vehicle opened fire on the police officers. Several bursts are believed to have been fired using an automatic weapon of the Kalashnikov type. The windscreen of the police vehicle was struck by fourteen bullet impacts. The officers returned fire before pursuing the assailants. No injuries were recorded among the police.
The suspects' flight ended when their car collided with a stationary 4x4. The four occupants abandoned the vehicle in an attempt to escape the police. A handgun is believed to have been found inside. Only one suspect was able to be arrested; the three others remain the subject of active searches.
The vehicle used during the chase corresponded to the one identified during the robbery committed on Wednesday, 7 October in Trois-Rivières. Two elderly women had been targeted in the town, near the town hall, whilst a demonstration was taking place as part of Blue Week, dedicated to the elderly. Two masked and armed individuals are believed to have attempted to snatch jewellery and bags from them. A shot is believed to have been fired during the assault, with no injuries resulting.
The arrested and wanted suspects could be involved in this case, as well as in other armed robberies recently committed in Guadeloupe. Their exact involvement in all of these matters remains to be established by the ongoing investigation.
Source: Google News GP — Crime