BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – BRANDON BROWNE, the 19-year-old Trafalgar Villager who was shot in the wee hours of Sunday, May 3, has reportedly died from a gunshot injury to the head.
According to a police press release, on Friday, May 8, Barbadian pathologist Dr. Stephen Jones conducted a post mortem on Browne’s body and “reported that death was due to gunshot injury to the head”.
Police had reported that Browne, who was accompanied by three passengers, was driving a rental motorcar (R291) eastwards along Fort Thomas Road when someone opened fire as the vehicle approached the junction of Market Street and Liverpool Row.
“As the vehicle got at the junction of College Street and Liverpool Row Browne was struck in the head by a bullet and one of the passengers sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. They were both taken to the JNF Hospital where the passenger was treated for the injury and warded in stable condition. Browne later died,” a police release stated.
Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Cromwell Henry said that no one was held in connection with the incident but investigations are ongoing.
He however informed that “the police are making an appeal to persons who have information on this incident to call the Criminal Investigation Department at 465 2241 ext. 220,230 or 236”. He also noted that all information received would be held in strict confidence.
When SKNVibes had arrived at the scene of the crime, it was learnt that the injured passenger is a female known as Ayanna from the St. Peters area.
And according to a source, who was in the area when the incident occurred, she was sitting in the circus by the big clock when she heard what sounded like fireworks which turned out to be gunshots.
“It was over five shots fired then I saw people running; some up Fort Street and some from across by Caribana area. Then about three minutes after a young lady came around the corner bleeding in the leg area crying and saying she had been shot either in the leg or buttocks,” the source said.
She also noted that the injured woman was accompanied by a friend who was trying to contact the ambulance on her cell phone while “her friend lay on the wall of the big clock. However, a white rental had pull up in the area and assisted in driving Ayanna to the hospital”.
The source further stated that about 10 minutes after the injured woman was taken to the hospital, “the ambulance arrived on the scene and assisted a young man known only as Brandon who was also shot”.
Browne’s death is the 10th homicide recorded in the annals of St. Kitts and Nevis for 2009.
