BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – QUICK reaction by a member of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force resulted in him escaping unscathed when a lone gunman fired a number of bullets in his direction.
The incident took place shortly before 9:00 a.m. today on Fort Thomas Road between West Bourne Ghaut and Market Street in Basseterre.
According to eyewitness account, while the off-duty police officer was walking east along Fort Thomas Road with a small bottle of water in his hand, a man appeared from within an alley and fired a number of shots in his direction.
The officer, eyewitnesses said, took evasive action by drawing his service pistol and fired a shot or two into the air, which caused the gunman to discontinue his intended purpose.
“I was walking along Thomas Road when I heard shots being fired. On realising it was a man shooting at a police officer and the officer in turn firing his pistol in the air, I got scared because I was in the middle of the gunplay.
“I started praying and ran away from the scene. However, the officer must be commended not only for his bravery and evasive action, but also for the professionalism he displayed in realising that if he had returned fire in the direction of the gunman I may have been shot,” one eyewitness said.
Another eyewitness stated that while the gunman was shooting at the police officer, a man, who the eyewitness claimed was his accomplice, was approaching the lawman from the rear but ran through the alley after he realised that the officer was armed and had fired about two shots into the air.
The eyewitness also stated that the gunman had made good his escape by running into a house in the area and exiting it from the rear.
SKNVibes learned that the quick-thinking officer had summoned for backup and a number of officers from the Basseterre Police Station had responded in record time.
On arrival at the scene, this media observed a number of police officers combing the area for items of evidential value and questioning some residents of the area. They were later joined by a contingent from the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, which was armed to the teeth.
This publication spoke with the Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Lyndon David, who said the police have a suspect in mind and that investigations are ongoing.
He also requested that anyone who may have information leading to the arrest, charge and subsequent conviction of the perpetrator, to call “the Violent Crime Unit at 467-1886, 467-1887, 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 may be eligible to receive a reward.”
