Grieving mother believes son was cold-bloodedly killed...

By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com

The vicinity of the crime scene

Chapman, a member of the Caribbean Roots Band, said two persons who are close to her and knew her son, Leon Hendrickson, identified his body at the Alexandra Hospital. 

Chapman said she was informed that her son was shot in the head, in the belly and other parts of the body. “I was told I cannot see him because his body is in an awful state and I might faint. I was told I must wait until the pathologist has seen Leon,” Brenda said, as she sat with friends and relatives on the verandah of a residence close to where Hendrickson was killed.

Chapman said yesterday afternoon was the last time she had seen her son and it was the sound of gunfire that awoken her early this morning. She was at the time in a residence close to the crime scene in Marion Avenue, Charlestown, where some members of the Caribbean Roots Band practice and live.

“I heard two shots first then there was a pause.” Chapman said the report of several shots was heard after the pause and she was later informed that her son had been killed. By that time, the Police had already arrived at the crime scene.

Chapman informed that she had been busy making preparations this week for the burial of a cousin who is scheduled for interment this afternoon.

When SKNVibes visited the scene at about 9.30 a.m., a team attached to the Nevis Criminal Investigating Department had secured the crime scene, as they continued with their investigations.

Seargeant Alonzo Carty, one of the officers at the scene, confirmed the shooting incident.  He said the incident occurred this morning.  “Police received reports of the gunshots at 12:45 this morning.”

~~Adz:Left~~Preliminary inquiries revealed that Police found the bullet-ridden body of 29-year-old Leon Hendrickson sometime after 3 a.m. today on Marion Avenue. The young man, who is reportedly a native of St. Kitts, was pronounced dead at about 8:00 a.m. at the Alexandra Hospital.

According to Police Press and Public Relations Officer Inspector Cromwell Henry, Hendrickson was known to hang around persons of “questionable character” but said he did not have any additional information at that time.
SKNVibes learnt that Hendrickson had lived in Bird Rock, Basseterre with family members before migrating to the US, where he resided for a few years.

Residents within the vicinity of the crime said Police were swift in their response. However, no arrest has been made so far but investigations are ongoing.

This death brings the murder toll for the Federation to a staggering 11 entering the sixth month of the year, with two on Nevis and the remainder on St. Kitts.