Several men in police custody for Cayon shooting
Victim’s mother claims police are unethical

By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief-SKNVibes.com

Trevon ‘Waxy’ Francis and his mother in happier times

In tears, the distraught mother said she was unable at the time to provide answers to posted questions, but stated that she would like to see justice done in the death of her child.

This media house’s visit to Walwyn’s home in Upper Cayon met with a seemingly angry mother - Edith Walwyn, fondly known as Ms. Liddie. After some 55 minutes of conversation with the woman and her daughter Vancelyn, SKNVibes learnt that they were annoyed over the manner in which the police denied them access to identify Desroy Walwyn’s body.

Edith claimed that she first learnt of her son’s death from someone who called her on the telephone at about 4:00 on Sunday morning. This call, she said, was followed by another from her son who is residing in St. Thomas.

Desroy ‘Shootout’ Walwyn and his mother shortly after his graduation from Cayon Primary School some 13 years ago

She stated that the police went to her home around 11:00 a.m. and informed her of his death, but they denied her the opportunity to see his body.

“The police officers came to my home almost eight hours after the shooting incident and informed me of my son’s death. I asked them permission to see his body and they told me I have to wait until the autopsy is being performed. How can I be certain that it is my son who died?

“The police officers’ behaviour is in contradiction to agreed moral conduct and professional standards. If this incident had occurred in another country, the parents or next of kin would have been taken to the place where the body is kept to identify it. If on the day of the post mortem I should say that he’s not my son, who could doubt me? I am upset with the police over this matter and the public needs to know what their rights are,” Edith said.

She also noted that contrary to the belief of some individuals who posted comments on SKNVibes, the nickname ‘Shootout’ was not given to her son because of him being a “bad man or gunslinger”.

“My son had loved to play football and basketball in the village. He may not have had the skills to become a member of the national team in those sporting disciplines, but he was one of the best in this area in shooting the ball into the basket. That is why he got the name Shootout…a basketball player and not a gunman.” 

Trevon ‘Waxy’ Francis

“I told him that I would not be going to church on Sunday and would stay home to assist him in painting the house. He faithfully promised me that he would be here to complete the task but, as faith would have it, he’s gone to the great beyond.” 

At about 3:15 a.m. on Sunday (Nov. 30), two masked gunmen dressed in dark clothing shot and killed Walwyn and Francis while they were among a group of bystanders on the Island Main Road in Cayon in the vicinity of Henry’s Night Spot.

Six of the bystanders, including a female, sustained gunshot injuries during the incident.SKNVibes learnt that the masked gunmen emerged from a yard close to Duncan ‘Big Lice’ Wattley’s residence and started firing shots, first killing Francis who tried to use Wattley’s car as a shield.

It is understood that he ran for a short distance and fell dead on the sidewalk opposite Henry’s Night Spot, while Walwyn was shot two houses away from Wattley’s residence. His body was found on the concrete stairway of an alley leading to the Island Main Road.
It was also revealed that the gunmen made their escape through an alley in the vicinity of Cayon High School.

Mother (L) and sister (R) of the late Desroy ‘Shootout’ Walwyn

According to the police, the District Medical Doctor visited the scene and pronounced both men dead. The injured persons were taken to the Joseph N France General Hospital by private vehicles and the Emergency Medical Services.  

Four of them were treated and are currently warded at the hospital in a stable condition, while one was treated for an abrasion on the leg and discharged. The other injured person went to the Emergency Room but refused to give his name when requested, refused the treatment offered and subsequently left the hospital.

The police are appealing to persons who may have information on this incident to call the Cayon Police Station at telephone 465-7258, the crime hotline at 707, or the Criminal Investigation Department at 465-2241 ext. 220, 230 or 236.

The police also state that all information received would be treated with strict confidence and may be given anonymously.