BASSETERRE, St Kitts — AS police intensify efforts to curb a recent rise in gun violence across the Federation, they have made a breakthrough in one of the latest homicide cases.
On Wednesday, officers formally charged Ketwan Hamilton of Lime Kiln Project in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred at the Royal Kingdom Snackette in Lime Kiln on April 20, 2026.
According to police, the incident took place between 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Investigators responding to the scene found a man lying motionless on the floor of the establishment. He was later identified as 22-year-old Shamari Baptiste, a national of St. Vincent and the Grenadines who lived at Buckley’s Estate.
Police said Baptiste had been waiting for a food order when he was approached by an armed assailant, who opened fire and struck him in the neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Thursday (Apr. 30), police confirmed that Hamilton has been charged with murder, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, discharging a loaded firearm in a public place, and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was formally charged at the Basseterre Police Station on April 29.
This arrest brings to four the number of individuals taken into custody in connection with two recent shooting incidents in St Kitts.
