A second Peoples National Movement politician was gunned down on Thursday night, in what investigators believe was an "ordered hit".
By Denyse RenneBert Allette, 54, a councillor with the Port of Spain City Council for the Belmont West/Port of Spain North area, was shot three times in the head.
Investigators said Allette was shot at point blank range. Two of the bullets exited the back of his head and one remained lodged in his forehead. He died on the spot.
His killing, which came two weeks after another councillor, Peter John was shot at his supermarket in Laventille, sent shock waves through the PNM.
Police last night said they received information that Allette recently had a dispute with someone whom he refused to give a recommendation for entry into a State-run programme.
Investigators also said Allette had, on numerous occasions, reported that his life was being threatened. However, he kept this from family members and close friends so as not to worry them.
However, sources said Allette did speak about the threats to a former Commissioner of Police and made a report to the Belmont Police Station.
Homicide sources said they expect to make an arrest soon.
Allette, a former photo journalist with the Express, Guardian and Newsday newspapers, of St Margaret's Lane, Belmont, has been a councillor for the past three years.
Cherry-Ann Grant, Allette's girlfriend whom he usually visited in the Marylane Hill, Belmont, area where the incident occurred, was said to be traumatised after the gunmen also opened fire on her during their attack.
Speaking with the Express during a brief interview yesterday, Grant said Allette went to her home shortly after 8 p.m. where he took a rest and later began playing with his dog Howler.
"He got a telephone call and I walked him out to his car," Grant said.
As they proceeded downhill to where Allette's car was parked, Grant said two armed men wearing bandanas across their faces jumped out the bushes.
"Bert turned to me and told me 'Cherry run'. I started running back up the hill and they were firing shots behind me," Grant said.
When she reached back to her house Grant picked up the phone and called the police, but said she heard several other shots.
"They (police) told me to stay inside and when they arrived they would call me," Grant recalled.
Adding that when the police arrived she was taken to the Belmont Police Station, Grant said she was told Allette struggled with his killers before being gunned down.
Allette's funeral will take place on Thursday at the Trinity Cathedral in Port of Spain, thence to the Western Cemetery in St James.
Port of Spain Mayor Murchison Brown told the family the corporation will stand the cost of funeral expenses.
Investigators last night said they were not linking the shooting to that of PNM councillor, John, who was shot seven times about the body by gunmen.
John remains warded at hospital under police guard.
