Based on intel, most of these crimes are due to a 2014 drug-related incident – COP

By Admin. Updated 8:36 p.m., Thursday, July 20, 2023, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Commissioner of Police Colin John said most of the crimes being committed here are due to a drug-related incident that occurred in 2014, some nine (9) years ago.

He was responding to a question from a journalist.

The Commissioner was addressing the nation about the July 19 mass shooting in Kingstown which left five dead, including a 13-year-old boy, and one person hospitalized.

The incident which shocked the nation occurred after a series of other recent killings.

The commissioner said:
“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.”

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.

He said that based on intelligence, most of the crimes are being committed by a minority of persons.

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.

A record number of 42 killings were recorded in 2022.

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.