BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ANOTHER teenager was gunned down last night in St. Kitts, taking the number of homicides for the year in the twin-island Federation to four.
Eighteen-year-old Jusan Kareem Raphael Hendricks, also known as Jusbo, of New Road and West Bourne Ghaut died at the Joseph N France General Hospital last night after being shot multiple times in Pub Magnum, a shop situated in Fort Thomas Road between Thibou and Fiennes Avenues, Basseterre.
According to the father of the deceased, Raphael Hendricks, he was playing a game of dominoes in West Bourne Ghaut when he received a message from the Jusan's mother stating that his son was shot somewhere in Irishtown.
“I left my home shortly before 8 o’clock last night to play dominoes in West Bourne Ghaut. While playing, I received a telephone call from my son’s mother just after 8:00 saying that Jusan was shot. I immediately abandoned the game and headed on foot towards Irishtown,” Hendricks said.
Hendricks said that as he approached the corner of West Bourne Ghaut and Fort Thomas Road, he realised that the incident could not have taken place in Irishtown because he would have heard reports of the gunshots from where he was playing dominoes.
“After realising that, I jumped into my car and drove around to Fort Thomas Road where I saw a group of people gathered on the outside of a shop. I exited the car and saw my son lying in the entrance of the shop. I asked him what happened and he told me, ‘Daddy ah get shot’. With the assistance of bystanders, I put him in my car and took him to the hospital,” he added.
Hendricks said that while his son was being treated for his injuries at the hospital, he kept talking to him with the hope of him remaining conscious. This, he said, was done in the presence of Jusan’s mother, Sandra Roberts, and other family members who were at his son’s bedside.
The teen’s father added that his hopes were dashed about one hour after, when he was told that his son was dead before surgery could have been undertaken.
He also told this media house that he was informed by a medical personnel that his son’s body bore no less than eight bullet wounds.
SKNVibes was informed that while in Pub Magnum, Jusan was approached by a masked man dressed in black, who shot him multiple times and made good his escape running west along Fort Thomas Road.
An individual, under the condition of anonymity, told this media house that he was driving in the vicinity of Five Ways when he heard multiple gunshots being fired. He said that he immediately reversed his vehicle and headed out of the area.
He however noted that while in the process of reversing the vehicle, he saw a short male dressed in black running in his direction but he could not have recognised who it was.
SKNVibes contacted the Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Cromwell Henry, who confirmed that the teen was shot multiple times, but stated no one was held in connection with the incident. He however said that investigations are ongoing.
This has been the fourth 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.
And on Friday, February 6, Shawn ‘X Man’ Williams of West Farm died at the JNF General Hospital after he was shot in Saddlers Village.
According to Inspector Henry, “At about 9:40 p.m., while walking along an area known as Plough Ground in Saddlers Village, 34-year-old Shawn Williams of West Farm was attacked by two men who fired multiple shots at him.”
Investigations into these homicides are also ongoing.
