BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A false alarm had sent emergency response units, including the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and various departments of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, to the eastern side of the island in search of an individual who was reportedly injured in a shooting incident.
Shortly after 8:00 a.m. yesterday (Oct. 16), SKNVibes received reports that there was a shooting in the Molineaux area. However, subsequent investigations indicated that while such a report was made, it was found to be false.
Commander of Division ‘B’, Superintendent Cromwell Henry told SKNVibes of the events which led to the conclusion that the report was false.
“Police received a call on the Emergency 911 line this morning reporting that there was a shooting in Molineaux near to Fraites Bakery. The 911 Emergency dispatched all the relevant units including the EMS, the Crime Scene Unit, the Tabernacle Police, the Tactical Unit…all the relevant units that would respond to such an event were activated; only to learn upon arrival, having questioned persons in the area that there was no shooting.
“No one in the area heard any shooting, no one claimed to have reported any shooting, no visible signs of shooting were found. We concluded that the report was a false report.”
The Superintendent said the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force is “not amused” by the making of false reports and that individuals engaged in such activity could be prosecuted.
“While we are grateful that there wasn’t such an incident, we are not amused by such calls as they only waste emergency response resources. We therefore urge persons to refrain from this practice. In these cases attempts would be made to trace the call and identify the caller, and if we can, what the law prescribes would be brought to bear on that person.”
