Today, Sunday October 1, 2006, at about 5:25 a.m., police officers from the Frigate Bay Station responded to a telephone call that a break-in was in progress at Golf View Apartments, Frigate Bay.
Two police officers, namely Sargeant Clive Benjamin and Constable Keith Pemberton, immediately went to the scene.
Upon sighting a male fitting the description of one Nigel Langley Sweeney, the Police Officers pursued him, and in the process of being apprehended by the Police at a private residence in the Frigate Bay area, Mr. Langley Sweeney shot at both Police Officers and at Frigate Bay resident, Mr. Paget Terry Isaac. He shot Sargeant Benjamin a number of times, and Mr. Isaac once. The Police Officers also shot at Mr. Langley Sweeney.
Nigel Langley Sweeney, age 42, and whose photograph had been posted in the local media recently, had been the focus of an intense nationwide manhunt as he was a fugitive and was also suspected of perpetrating a number of break-ins in the areas of Bird Rock, Frigate Bay, Potato Bay, Camps, Mattingley Heights and West Farm.
As a result of the gunshot wounds as aforesaid, Nigel Langley Sweeney died at the scene of the incident, while Sargeant Benjamin succumbed to his injuries later this morning at the J. N. France General Hospital. Meanwhile, Mr. Isaac remains in hospital in a stable condition, and Constable Pemberton has been seen and discharged.
As is required in such incidents, autopsies will be performed on Sergeant Benjamin and Nigel Langley Sweeney.
The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force is deeply saddened and disturbed at the untimely passing of Sargeant Benjamin, a devoted, brave and professional police officer with over 20 years service, who died this day in the line of duty.
And we wish to extend our profound condolences to his family.
We wish also to thank Constable Pemberton for his bravery and for carrying out his duty under pressure, and wish him a speedy recovery.
We wish also to thank and commend Mr. Paget Terry Isaac for his bravery and support to the Police, and to the other civic-minded persons who were helpful to the Police in carrying out their duties in relation to this morning's tragic incident.
Further information can be obtained, as available, from the Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Meredith Charles.
