BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – POLICE have charged a young man from Basseterre with murder following the shooting-death of Darnel Govia at the JNF General Hospital on Tuesday (Jun. 20).
Charged with murder is 23-year-old Shakeem ‘Lil Nozzle’ Cranston, also known as Shakeem Mitchum, of Upper College Street, Basseterre.
The 31-year-old Govia of Phillip’s Village was gunned down at the hospital around 9:00 a.m. while reportedly waiting on a friend who was having tests done in the Laboratory.
According to reports reaching SKNVibes, on seeing a lone, unmasked gunman approaching him, Govia began running in the direction of the Laboratory on the western section of the hospital.
The gunman reportedly gave chase, caught up with him and fired a number of shots in his direction, which created pandemonium as members of staff and visitors to the medical institution ran in various directions to avoid being shot.
About one hour later, Govia succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
Shortly after receiving reports of the shooting incident, members of the Special Services Unit and officers at the St. Johnson’s Police Station, in a quick and coordinated response, had apprehended Cranston and took him into custody at the Basseterre Police Station.
In some quarters, the murder charge laid against Cranston had led to speculations as he, too, was victim to a shooting incident in Phillip’s Village on Tuesday, October 20, 2015.
According to a police press release, the then 21-year-old Shakeem Mitchum-Cranston was shot at about 7:00 p.m. in Phillip’s Village.
“Initial reports indicate that Mitchum-Cranston was approached by three (3) persons in dark clothing while washing his hands at a stand pipe. The individuals had firearms in their hands and discharged the firearms in his direction hitting him several times. Police and medical services responded to the scene and the victim was taken to the Joseph N. France General Hospital where he was treated and is in critical but stable condition...,” the release read.
And with regards to Govia, Justice Francis Belle had sentenced him to serve 10 years at Her Majesty’s Prison on Monday, June 11, 2017 for the attempted murder of Guyanese native Mark Robertson who was at the time residing in Molineaux.
The incident had occurred on the night of Wednesday, December 14, 2005 while Robertson was returning home after playing a few games of billiards (pools) in Phillip’s Village.
While on a lonely stretch of road, Govia had reportedly approached Robertson and at close range fired three shots to his back, with one striking him to the spinal cord.
Evidence revealed in court stated that after falling to the ground, Govia had gotten closer to Robertson and attempted to fire more shots at him, but the firearm had either jammed or ran out of bullets.
The wheelchair-bound Robertson is paralysed from the waist down and has since returned to his homeland.
