‘So Unfortunate, So Unnecessary’: Major Leacock Calls for National Response After Green Hill Mass Shooting
By Val Matthias. Updated 9:37 p.m., Saturday, September 26, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Acting Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Major St Clair Leacock has described the Green Hill mass shooting that left four people dead and two others injured as “so unfortunate, so unnecessary”, while warning that St Vincent and the Grenadines cannot rely on arrests and prosecutions alone to tackle escalating violence among young people.
Speaking on NBC Radio on September 26, less than 24 hours after the attack, Leacock expressed condolences to the families affected by what is believed to be one of the country’s deadliest gun attacks in recent years.
The shooting occurred on the night of September 25 in Green Hill, where gunmen reportedly arrived in a vehicle and opened fire on a group gathered near a shop. Four people were killed and four others wounded.
Leacock, who is also the parliamentary representative for Central Kingstown, said he was deeply saddened by the incident, noting that Green Hill had long been regarded as one of the most peaceful communities in his constituency.
“First, I express very, very serious and profound condolence on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Government, to the families of those who lost loved ones last evening. It is so, so unfortunate, so, so unnecessary,” he said.
While reaffirming support for the work of law enforcement, Leacock argued that the country’s crime problem requires a broader response that extends beyond the criminal justice system.
“The forces of law and order continue to work, and work diligently, under the charge of the Commissioner of Police,” he said. However, he cautioned that policing alone would not solve the problem.
“I made the point that we cannot, let me underscore that, we cannot un-arrest and prosecute our way out of crime and violence in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Leacock said.
The acting prime minister said the rise in violence demanded what he described as a “whole-of-St Vincent approach”, involving families, schools, churches and other social institutions working together to address the underlying causes of crime.
Major Leacock pointed to what he sees as a decline in youth engagement programmes and community-based organisations, arguing that greater investment in prevention is needed to steer young people away from criminal activity.
He said successful international responses to crime and violence have typically involved collective action from multiple sectors of society, particularly faith-based and youth organisations.
The minister also expressed concern about the age of many of those affected by Friday night’s violence.
“The majority of victims last evening unfortunately were young people, all under 30, many under the age of 20,” he said.
Leacock said that the incident was not an isolated event, noting that another disturbance involving young people had occurred elsewhere on the same evening. He said the country must confront what he described as a growing scourge of youth anger, crime and violence.
Ending his address, the acting prime minister again extended condolences to grieving families and appealed for national unity in addressing the roots of violent crime.
“How, when, where, and who are we going to deal with this scourge on Vincentian society?” he asked, before calling on the nation to move in a common direction to protect its future and its young people from lives of crime and violence.
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About the Author: This story was written and submitted by freelance journalist Mr. Val Matthias, a trained communicator with more than two decades in the media sector. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication (UWI Mona), a Master of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management (UWI Cave Hill), a Certificate in Digital Marketing, and has years of broadcast journalism experience rising to ranks of a programme manager. All supporting materials for this story have been presented, vetted, and verified. Mr Matthias can be reached at valmatthias188@gmail.com
