BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE bloody weekend continued late last evening (May 29) when two teenagers fell prey to gunmen’s rage, leaving one under the care of staff of the Joseph N. France (JNF) General Hospital.
The incident, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) with responsibility for Crime, Joseph Liburd, took place at about 11:35 at St. Johnston’s Village.
He identified the two victims as 19-year-old Theon Audain of Haynes Smith Village and 16-year-old Joel Phillip of Laguite Village.
Details surrounding the incident are not forthcoming but SKNVibes spoke to a number of individuals, who explained that they were in the area when they heard about 10 gunshots being fired around the time the incident was reported to have taken place.
This media house also understands that following the shooting, both were taken to the JNF General Hospital where they received treatment for their injuries.
SKNVibes was reliably informed that Phillip sustained a wound to one of his toes and has since been discharged from the hospital while Audain sustained wounds to his neck, chest and head. The wound to his head however, did not pierce his skull. He is said to be in stable condition.
This incident took place less than 24 hours after an early-morning shooting that left a St. Peters resident nursing gunshot wounds.
Erastus ‘Ras P’ Peets was shot while in the vicinity of C&C Superfoods’ Bay Road Branch at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday, May 29. He was rushed to the JNF General Hospital, where he is currently being treated and is said to be in stable condition.
Approximately 12 hours prior, Jason Henderson of Keys Village was attacked and stabbed while at College Street Ghaut waiting to embark a passenger bus. He made his way to the Basseterre Police Station and from there was transported to the JNF General Hospital.
One man is in police custody assisting with investigations into the stabbing of Henderson.
ACP Liburd said the police are making investigations into the other incidents.
SKNVibes contacted Medical Chief-of-Staff and Chief Surgeon at the JNF General Hospital, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson, and asked of the impact that this level of criminal activity has on the medical institution and its resources.
“It is putting significant stress and strain on the hospital personnel and resources, and I am hoping that somehow, whatever the dispute is between persons involved, we can find a forum where we can sit down and discuss and bring an end to it in a peaceful way as opposed to the path that appears to be taken, which is through guns and knives.”
He made an appeal to persons responsible for these attacks to find alternative means to setting whatever disputes they may be experiencing.
