Trinidad and Tobago is grappling with mounting public outrage following the release of CCTV footage that directly contradicts official police accounts of a fatal shooting incident in St. Augustine on January 20. The video evidence shows 31-year-old Joshua Samaroo attempting to surrender with hands visibly raised from his crashed vehicle before officers opened fire, killing him and critically wounding his common-law wife Kaia Sealy.
The disturbing footage captures the immediate aftermath of a police pursuit that ended when Samaroo’s car crashed into a drain on Bassie Street Extension. Within seconds, three officers emerged from their SUV and discharged approximately 17 rounds into the vehicle despite clear surrender gestures. The recording shows Samaroo lowering his window and extending both hands skyward before being struck multiple times and slumping in his seat.
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro initially stated that occupants “chose to challenge my officers” and that the response complied with use-of-force protocols. However, the visual evidence has prompted the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to launch an independent investigation into what many are calling an excessive use of force.
Deputy Commissioner Suzette Martin acknowledged public concerns while emphasizing the TTPS’s commitment to transparency: “Any loss of life during a police operation is a matter we treat with the utmost seriousness.” The service has pledged full cooperation with the PCA investigation.
This incident marks the fourth police-involved fatality in 2026, continuing a troubling three-year trend that saw fatal police shootings jump 150% from 45 in 2023 to 68 in 2025. The spike coincides with extended states of emergency that granted expanded police powers throughout most of last year.
The PCA has reiterated its call for mandatory body-worn cameras, stating such technology “would help elucidate the true nature of what transpired in circumstances like these.” Meanwhile, legislative efforts to establish Zones of Special Operations continue progressing through Parliament, raising concerns among opposition members about potential power abuses.
As investigations proceed, the incident has sparked intense public debate about police accountability, with social media users expressing both outrage at the apparent surrender violation and some support for police facing dangerous situations.