BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ANOTHER family is today (Feb. 15) mourning the loss of a loved one to senseless gun violence on the streets of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Dead is 51-year-old Dahlia Hanley of Lime Kiln, who was killed yesterday afternoon while plying her trade as a security guard at the Irish Town Primary School.
Police have reported that gunshots were heard in the vicinity of the school around 4:10 p.m.
This media house understands that Hanley was shot while a gunman was shooting at an individual who reportedly ran through the schoolyard.
Lawmen, who were in the area at the time of the incident, quickly responded and a “chase and search ensued”, which resulted in several suspects being taken into custody.
Several items of evidential value were also found in the area.
Students were left traumatized from the incident and one parent told SKNVibes News that his daughter is still shaken from what transpired at the school.
This latest incident raises more concerns over crime and security within the Federation, following two homicides in January and one to start this month.
Public outcries continue over the source of firearms on the streets of St. Kitts and Nevis.
CARICOM Chairman, Bahamas Prime Minister Phillip Davis lamented the challenges being faced in the region by firearms that are smuggled from the United States.
In his press conference ahead of the 44th Intersessional Meeting, he acknowledged that progress is being made when it comes to discussions between the region and US officials.
That comes against the backdrop of firearms found to have been involved in the commission of crimes in the region being registered to individuals within the United States, emphasizing the fact that the right to bear arms in the United States is impacting all Caribbean territories.
In the Bahamas, murder has been committed by guns bought in the Florida area, while in the Federation it has been found that guns used in homicides and other criminal activities were linked to a group in Atlanta and the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the Police Force acknowledged the work the public plays in combating criminal activities.
“The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force would like to thank the general public for its cooperation and assistance in our efforts to combat all acts of violence in the Federation. We extend deepest condolences to the bereaved families. You can be assured that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Dahlia Hanley’s death has taken to four, the number of homicides committed in the Federation for this year - three on St. Kitts and one on Nevis.
The first was that of 26-year-old Javon Grant of Maddens Estate, Nevis, who was shot multiple time in the vicinity of a bar in Bath Village on Wednesday (Jan. 11).
The second homicide victim was 29-year-old Dequan Maloney of Morne Heights, Bird Rock, but who was originally from Upper Shaw Avenue, McKnight.
His lifeless body was found within the trunk of a motorcar in the Bird Rock area on Friday (Jan. 27).
And the third was that of Sylvester Crossley of McKnight, but who was residing at Halfway Tree when he was shot while in a business establishment in Basseterre on Wednesday (Feb. 1).
