And while the two shooting deaths so far are being investigated as murders - the third case is not quite as clear.
Just before midnight on Saturday, a 60 year old security Guard was working at the Aqua Mar Shrimp Farm when he came upon two trespassers. He says they were dressed in dark clothing and stepped towards him with a machete.
He took up his shotgun - and the men fled, but the Security still fired, hitting 25 year old Wilfred Malcom in the back and head, killing him.
So, the men were trespassing, but they were also fleeing - so was the use of lethal force justified? Especially since security guards were always on the lookout for copper thieves at the farm.
Police are still unsure about the events that led up to Malcolm getting shot. This afternoon, the acting Commander of the Independence Sub-division, Inspector Delfin Zuniga, told us what they know...
Insp. Delfin Zuniga, Acting OC - Independence Police
"Initial investigation revealed that the deceased was a long with another male person at the Aqua Mar Shrimp Farm located between mile 40 and 41 on the southern highway when he was shot by the security guard that was working. The security guard is a holder of a licensed 16 gauge shotgun. At the time of the shooting the deceased along with the other make person apparently walk up into the security guard and that was when the security guard lift up his 16 gauge shotgun and subsequently fired at the deceased and the other male person which made good his escape."
"Presently we have the security detained at this time, but I am not in a position to divulge his name. We have received a number of reports. We have also retrieve a machete and blue and black metal cutter from the scene which we believe is the machete that the deceased had, likewise the metal cutter."
"The motive of the deceased and his accomplice is unknown at this time, but we have received information that in the past the shrimp farm has been plague with people trespassing and stealing copper wires. But we are not certain at this time if that was the motive."
The Aqua Mar security guard is currently detained, but no charge has been brought against him. Police are also still looking for Malcolm's accomplice, who escaped after his friend was killed.
In 2008 there had been 15 incidents of copper theft at Aquamar in one year -costing the company well over one hundred thousand dollars.
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