By Admin. Updated 7:38 p.m., Thursday, July 20, 2023, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Among the persons killed in the July 19 mass shooting in Uptown, Kingstown were “individuals who had survived previous attempts on their lives,” Acting Prime Minister – Montgomery Daniel said today.
Mr. Daniel was speaking at a press conference at Cabinet Room to update the nation on the incident.
Police say that at about 8:00 p.m., on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, they received reports about a shooting incident near a bar uptown, Kingstown.
In the aftermath, five individuals died, including a 13-year-old boy, and one person is hospitalized.
Responding to a question from a journalist, Commissioner of Police Colin John said most of the crimes being committed are due to a drug-related incident that occurred in 2014, some nine (9) years ago.
“Based on our Intel, the majority of the shootings the majority of them, they are as a result of something that would have happened in 2014 where some drug transaction went wrong and then persons who were friends, then became foes, and then it continued up to today, so that’s my reason for saying that,” Commissioner of Police – Mr. Colin John said.
In his remarks, the police commissioner clarified that he was not speaking about the 13-year-old boy who lost his life in the mass shooting.
Meanwhile, Acting Prime Minister – Montgomery Daniel called on the public for assistance as police are on the early stages of their investigations.
“In the coming days, we will uncover the reasons and persons behind these barbaric acts and we will follow the facts wherever they lead,” the Acting Prime Minister said.
So far for this year, there have been 35 killings, thirty-two (32) of which have been classified as regular homicides and three which have been committed by police in the exercise of their duties.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves who is currently in Morocco on official state business urged the nation in a video address this morning to be calm.
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