AN INTRUDER who was shot dead after he broke into a pharmacist's home and attempted a robbery was identified yesterday.

The deceased was Nicholas Saunders, 21, who police said lived a life of crime.

Saunders was identified through the fingerprint database of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

Saunders, whose addresses were Arima and Carapichaima, had several outstanding warrants for break-ins and robberies at the Freeport Police Station. He also had 15 pending matters before the courts for similar matters and previously spent time in jail.

On Tuesday, Saunders died in the yard of a pharmacist in Edinburgh Village, Chaguanas.

Around 2.45 a.m., Saunders, wielding a cutlass, had accosted the victim in his bedroom and announced a hold-up. The victim drew his licensed firearm and shot Saunders once in his chest.

He dropped the cutlass and ran out of the house.

A party of police officers, led by Senior Superintendent Edward Castillo, visited the scene.

Acting Sergeant Nyron Heeralal is investigating.