Gun Shots Claim Two More Lives This Week

Two male individuals were killed, this week, as Saint Lucia continues to grapple with incidents of gun violence. The island to date has recorded 62 homicides for the year.

Police reported that on Thursday, about 9.30 p.m. Delice Maulings of Fond Cannie, Babonneau was shot dead after a shooting incident that occurred at Cacoa, Babonneau.

Delice, said to be in his thirties, was reportedly at home in his balcony when he was shot multiple times by shooters.

Reports state that, at the time of the incident he was home with his daughter.

Delice is reported to have had multiple encounters with law enforcement officers and was well known to the police. .

On Wednesday, reports confirmed that Wilson Joseph alias ‘Fat Boy’ of George Shine Drive was shot dead in Vieux Fort in the early hours as he lay in his bed with other members of his family.

Law enforcement officers received a report of the shooting at about 2:00 am and proceeded to the scene at George Shine Drive, where they found Joseph’s bullet ridden body lying motionless.

Recalling the horror of that early morning tragedy, the victim’s girlfriend said she and her child had to duck for cover in a corner of the house as the gunmen kicked open the door to their home and sprayed bullets at Joseph. The young woman said she is lucky to have survived from the gun attack with her child. Joseph is said to have another child on the way.

Upwards to press time, there were no further updates on these matters.

In other updates, police reported that on Thursday, about 3:20 p.m., officers attached to the Bicycle Patrol Unit were conducting an operation along Manoel Street, Castries, when a Toyota Yaris was stopped for various traffic related violations.

Subsequently, a search of the motor vehicle resulted in the recovery of a 9 mm pistol and four rounds of ammunition. The three occupants of the vehicle were all arrested by the officers and the motor car was impounded, due to fraudulent registration plates, being operated with expired registration and insurance certificates, as well as being operated by an individual without a valid drivers’ license.

Police report that currently the three suspects remain in custody, with charges pending.

Meanwhile, reports state that thieves who attempted to break into the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA) Headquarters in Castries, on Wednesday evening, got a rude awakening, after a licensed firearm holder fired warning shots to scoot them away.

The thieves reportedly took cover and ran for their lives.

It is reported that on Wednesday night, an alert citizen who heard the loud sound of breaking glass and saw two individuals making off with tables fired warning shots, at which point the thieves dropped the items and fled.

“What they did to gain access to the building was they threw a rock through a glass pane above the door. The doors we have are of reinforced steel,” SLBWA President Glen Simon explained.

With burglar bars and a security monitoring system in place, the thieves’ attempted break-in plot was foiled.

“So they did not manage to make away with any major items except those two tables but their attempt was foiled,” Simon told St Lucia Times.

He said the break-in was especially disturbing given the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the SLBWA struggled to serve the public.

While stating that the break-in allowed the association to further beef up its security system, Simon declared: “We are calling on the Saint Lucian society to do better – do better by associations working in the interest of everyone.”