BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE man who was last night (Mar. 8) shot in Conaree Village and died at the Joseph N France General was identified as Audwin ‘Sugars’ Pinney.
According to a police press release, at about 9:00 p.m. officers responded to a report of the Conaree shooting and investigations revealed that Pinney was shot “multiple times by an assailant who fled the scene. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death”.
The release also stated that the police are again appealing to persons with information to call telephone numbers 911 or 466 9279 ext. 246, and that information may be given anonymously which would be held in strict confidence.
Among those left to mourn the death of the 40-year-old Conaree resident are four children, all girls.
Pinney, who in 2004 told the St. Kitts-Nevis Observer that he was a “reformed convict” and was being discriminated by some nationals on the island, was an entrepreneur and had written letters to the Prime Minister requesting land for agriculture purposes.
Pinney was also the founder of the now defunct Bounce Around Club. He claimed that the club was formed with the objective of raising funds to assist the needy and troubled youths in the Basseterre community.
The shooting-death victim had also stated that he used to organise events where certain influential and respected members of society would have held discussions with many of the troubled youths in the island’s capital.
In 2004/5, Pinney could have been seen during school hours vending his snacks under a tree in the vicinity of the Washington Archibald High School and the Beach Allen Primary School.
He had stopped selling his produce by the schools and shortly after established a business called the Bounce Back Bar on Fort Thomas Road. However, for whatever reason, the establishment was closed in early 2008 and now houses Pub Magnum, where the late Jusan Hendricks was gunned down on Tuesday, February 24.
Audwin ‘Sugars’ Pinney’s death has taken the total homicides committed in the Federation for the year to eight. On Wednesday (Mar. 4), 19-year-old Akimba ‘Oil’ White of Cardin Avenue, St. Johnston Village and Kwesi Twelves of Manchester Avenue, Newtown were gunned down on the Infirmary Road in St. Johnston Village.
Less than 48 hours earlier, Collin ‘Izum’ Matthew of East Street, Newtown was gunned down on Catherine Julius Street, Ponds Extension in the vicinity of the basketball court, and later died at the JNF Hospital.
Eighteen-year-old Jusan Kareem Raphael Hendricks, also known as Jusbo, of New Road and West Bourne Ghaut died at the same hospital on Tuesday, February 23 after he was shot multiple times while playing dominoes in Pub Magnum on Fort Thomas Road.
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 too was taken to the JNF 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 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’ Dias- Williams of West Farm died at the JNF General Hospital after he was shot in Saddlers Village.
Investigations into these homicides are ongoing.
