BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A man was shot and killed by police this morning (Jan. 22) in the vicinity of Clico Housing Project in St. Peter’s.
Dead is 40-year-old Winston Calistus Browne of Taylor’s, who is reportedly said to be the brother of St. Kitts and Nevis’ world-rated athlete Kim Collins.
On arrival at the scene, SKNVibes learnt that Browne was shot by members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force after he had stabbed his estranged wife and ran within a bushy area in Clico Housing Project.
In addition to members of the Crime Scene Unit and other investigation officers, members of Browne’s family was at the scene along with the former Leader of the People’s Action Movement, Lindsay Grant.
“Is kill de police dem kill me son. They are law enforcement officers but dey don’t know how to shoot. Why dey didn’t shoot him on his foot or his hand?” said the visibly distraught mother.
This media house was told that Browne and his wife were living together in New Road but had separated sometime last year, and he had since moved to his sister’s residence in Taylor’s.
“I think it was shortly after 8:00 this morning he and his wife had an altercation and he allegedly stabbed her. Someone had called for the police and he ran to the back of the Housing Project. We heard when shots were fired and many of us ran in the direction from whence it came. When we got there, Calli was on the ground and he looked like if he was dead, and the police chased us from the area," an individual told SKNVibes.
However, according to sources close to the police, officers had cornered Browne within the south-eastern section of Clico Housing Project and ordered him to “drop the knife and ice pick that he had in his hands”.
Sources claimed that Browne refused and was advancing in a threatening manner towards the officers, who repeatedly warned him to comply with their request.
Additionally, sources said that one of the officers tried to take the weapons from him, but was stabbed in the process and, in retaliation, Browne was shot in the leg.
The sources further said that despite being shot in the leg, Browne attacked the officers and was subsequently shot to death in the process.
Browne was pronounced dead by District Medical Officer Dr. Mervyn Laws who was summoned to the scene.
The body was removed from the scene by undertakers of Jenkins Funeral Home under police escort.
Commissioner of Police Celvin ‘CG’ was also at the scene and informed this media house that at 11:00 a.m. he would be hosting a press conference in his office at Police Headquarters in Basseterre.
More on this incident as information becomes available.
