BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SOME 10 months after the shooting-death of Leon ‘Machine’ Thompson of Buckley’s Estate, police have arrested and charged Joel Phillip of Shadwell Housing with his murder.
A release from the Police Press and Public Information Officer, Sergeant Stephen Hector, stated that Phillip was “charged and cautioned on 20th June 2012 for the murder of Leon Thompson”.
On Wednesday, August 17, 2011, just hours after attending a candlelight vigil for David ‘Dibaloo’ Thomas who three days earlier was shot to death, Thompson was cold-bloodily gunned down at approximately 10:30 p.m. while at the ground Zero Bar in Buckley’s Estate.
Reports reaching this publication at that time indicated that two individuals were injured during the incident – 36-year-old Mark ‘Chimu’ Phillip also of Buckley’s Estate was the other.
Further reports suggest that while Thompson (34) was injured on the scene, Phillip was injured while making an attempt to escape the gunman’s wrath.
Phillip, according to Sergeant Hector, sustained injuries to his chest and, this media house learnt that after being shot, he ran to the Joseph N. France General Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
When SKNVibes arrived on the scene, Thompson’s lifeless body was observed on the floor of the bar, draped with a white sheet, and the area cordoned and secured by armed security personnel.
District Medical Officer Dr. Mervin Laws was summoned to the scene and pronounced him dead, after which permission was sought from and granted by the Coroner to have his body removed to Jenkins Funeral Home.
Thompson’s death had marked the 26th murder in the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis for 2011.
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