BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE young man who was shot last night (Sept. 22) while at the Joseph N. France General Hospital has succumbed to his injuries.
A police press named the victim as Kaheel Herbert of Lower Thibou Avenue.
Initial reports suggested that the 19-year-old was at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department when at about 7:50p.m., a gunman entered the area and opened fire before making his exit. Moments later, another gunman entered the Department and opened fire, also before making his exit.
He reportedly sustained multiple gunshot injuries. None of the other occupants of the Department – neither staff nor patients – was injured during the incident but it left them traumatised.
Herbert was rushed into the operating room and reportedly underwent several hours of surgery before being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.
Information reaching this publication indicates that Herbert lost the fight for his life sometime today.
The police have offered condolences to the Herbert family and they have described the incident as "an attack on the people of the Federation and we must all become incensed and identify the persons responsible. We must no longer remain silent even though these can be family members. They have shown that they have no respect for life and must be apprehended."
They have appealed with those bearing information about the incident to come forward and relay it to them.
“Anyone having information pertaining to this incident is asked to contact the Violent Crime Unit at 662-9336, the nearest police station or Crime stoppers at 1-800-8477 (TIPS). Remember, you do not have to provide your personal information, and you maybe eligible to receive a reward.”
The incident has caused many questions to be asked about security at the medical institution and what – if anything – could be done to prevent such an onslaught from taking place again.
