Man gunned down at shop by masked men

By Admin. Updated 10:50 a.m., Saturday, June 29, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

A man was hanging out at a shop in Diamond when two masked men reportedly approached the scene and opened fire on him.

The man has been identified as Kaymanie Richards, a resident of Diamond. He succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.

The incident took place in Diamond sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning (a subsequent police report will confirm the exact time).

There were no reports of anyone else at the scene being hurt.

When the masked men were done opening fire on the victim, they fled the scene.

The incident is one of several recent gun-related killings in the country.

It marks the 24th homicide for the year, so far.

Police are conducting their investigations.

In 2023, St. Vincent and the Grenadines which has a population of over 109,000 people registered a record number of homicides in a single year which totaled 55.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has blamed the easy access to guns in the U.S. and young people who have a fascination with guns as part of the reason for the increased number of gun-related deaths here.

But, former police commissioner- Mr. Colin John said publicly in 2023 that based on intel, most of the homicides being committed in the country are linked to a drug transaction that went wrong sometime in 2014 where friends became foes.

Many Vincentians are of the view that the homicides being recorded are drug-related and the result of criminal elements in the country “taking out each other” in reprisal fashion, and that the rest of the country is unscathed.

Still, many have expressed grave concerns and the need for more action to reduce the incidences of gun violence.

Recently, a 91-day National Firearm Amnesty Programme was held by the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, but as of May 31, when the programme ended only 18 firearms and 327 rounds of ammunition were handed in.

The programme commenced on March 1, 2024, and concluded on May 31, 2024.

The government has also announced the introduction of high-tech scanners at the ports of entry to detect weapons after several high-powered rifles and ammunition were detected coming through the ports.