BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MOTHER of the Federation’s latest shooting-death victim, Rupertha Dias said she was shocked on hearing that her son was shot and is at a loss for the reason why anyone wanted him dead.
Shawn Dias-Williams, also known as Shabo and X Man, of West Farm died early Saturday morning (Feb. 7) at the JNF General Hospital after he was shot the night before in Saddlers Village.
On a visit to his mother’s residence in Boyds, SKNVibes was told that around 9:00 p.m. Dias received a message that her son was shot and taken to the hospital.
“When I got the message I immediately left for the hospital and saw my son lying on a bed. He was in and out of shock, and on three occasions he said to me, ‘Mommy, you know I don’t trouble people, I just went to drop off the child’s things’.
“I remained by his bedside at the hospital and about 11:40 p.m. they took him for surgery. About minutes to 2:00 a.m. a nurse called me and she took me to the doctor who told me to sit down. He then said, ‘I tried my best but he didn’t make it’,” Dias said.
She said that she was told the bullet had entered her son’s body from the buttocks and travelled upwards to his chest.
Asked if her son was a gang member or was known to have enemies, Dias answered in the negative. She said he was a landscaper by profession and was known by most people as a very quiet and friendly individual.
Dias said her son was a very dutiful father to his daughter and since her birth some six months ago, he would purchase her necessities and every Friday takes them to the baby’s mother who resides in Saddlers.
This obligation, she said, is what he had honoured on the night he was shot.
“Last week was the last time I had seen him before hearing the sad news on Friday night. I am at a loss for words to express my feelings and I cannot understand why anyone would want to kill him when he was known to be a peace-loving person who never got himself into trouble,” the visibly distraught mother said.
According to Police Press and Public Relations Officer Inspector Cromwell Henry, “At about 9:40 p.m., while in Saddlers Village, 34-year-old Shawn Williams of West Farm was attacked by two men who fired multiple shots at him.
“Williams tried to run away from his attackers, one of whom was masked, but he was shot in the buttocks. He was rushed to the JNF Hospital by a unit of the Emergency Medical Services but succumbed to his injury during surgery.”
Inspector Henry said two persons are in custody assisting police with their investigations. He also said that the police are appealing to persons who may have information concerning this crime to call the St. Pauls Police Station at telephone number 465-6281, or the Crime Hotline at 707, or the Criminal Investigation Department at 465-2241 ext. 220, 230 or 236.
“Information received will be treated with strict confidence, and may be given anonymously,” he added.
This has been the third homicide for the year. On Tuesday, January 20, Joseph ‘White Joe’ King (54) was stabbed in the vicinity of the Elite Laundry located on the Island’s Main Road, St. Johnston’s Village. He was taken to the JNF General Hospital where he died at approximately 2:55 p.m. on the following day.
Eleven days earlier, 17-year-old Isimba Bradley, also known as Simba and Ratty, of Fiennes Avenue, Basseterre was shot by a masked man in the vicinity of Pizza Place while walking with a friend in Central Street. He ran all the way from that area and succumbed to his injuries on the Bay Road.
According to police reports, one suspect was shot during a chase. He was in police custody while hospitalised but subsequently released on Friday, January 23. Investigations into these homicides are ongoing.
