WEDNESDAY this week was an action-packed day for law enforcers with three homicides recorded within 24 hours.
The day was also traumatic for fire officer 572 Felix who responded to one of the shooting incidents only to discover that the victim was his sister.
The Fire Service Department is now working closely with him to help ease the stress he is under.
“Whatever the department can do to assist him, we will do,” acting Fire Chief Joseph Joseph said yesterday.
Felix was a first responder to the scene of a fatal shooting on St. Louis Street, Castries, Wednesday night via the ambulance service. He was rendered speechless and helpless on discovering that the victim was his sister Verna Augustin, one of two persons shot dead that night in Castries in separate incidents.
“He had no knowledge of the identity of the victim until he arrived at the scene,” the department’s Press Officer, Stacy Joseph said.
Felix, who is in his ninth year as a firefighter, has encountered several family tragedies in his life and has been undergoing counseling for some time.
Police reported that his sister, Verna Augustin 24, of Wilton’s Yard, Castries was found with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds to the body allegedly perpetrated by an unknown individual. She was transported to Victoria Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. They say they responded to the shooting at about 9:55 p.m.
Her brother, Miguel “Reds” Augustin was killed in similar fashion on the same street four years ago. He was also 24 years old at the time.
However, minutes prior to the St. Louis Street incident, a shooting in Bisee, another community in Castries, claimed another life, 25 year old Christopher Williams of the area.
According to police, they responded to a call about a shooting in Bisee at about 9:50 p.m., and that Williams, who was transported to the Victoria Hospital, succumbed to his injuries there.
The shooting took place near the Trinity Lutheran Church. It was first believed that the victim was a 17 year-old, however this was later corrected.
Williams sustained gunshot wounds to his torso and neck and was transported in an unresponsive state to the Victoria Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The third homicide that day was in the afternoon. Police say they were summoned to Duggard, Micoud at about 1:40 p.m. where the body of an unidentified male was discovered.
They say that preliminary inquiries led to the identification of the body as that of 41-year-old, Urban ChalentonKangal alias ‘Obie’ of the same area.
“At the time of discovery, the body was in a prone position with what appeared to be chop wounds to the right arm and both leg,” Police stated in a release.
An investigation has ensued and a male individual has been detained, assisting with the police probe of the incident. Reports are that the victim was in a fight with his brother which could have led to the fatality.
Wednesday’s triple homicides have pushed the number of killings so far for the year to 26.
