‘Serious nightmare’ as 4 shot useless in vacationer hotspot St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The shooting spree left four people dead on Friday in the small Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where authorities have struggled to contain gang violence
There have been 37 murders so far this year in the tiny Caribbean country.(Image: Getty)
A massive manhunt has been launched after four people were gunned down on a paradise Caribbean island.
The deadly shooting rampage claimed four lives on Friday in the tiny Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where officials have battled to curb escalating gang warfare.
A fifth killing occurred on Saturday, police added, though authorities are yet to establish whether it’s connected to Friday’s massacre. The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force revealed that officers rushed to reports of gunshots in Green Hill, a district situated just outside the capital Kingstown.
“Two bodies were met lying on the public road, the body of a female was discovered in a vehicle that was parked on the public road, and on an adjacent piece of land another body was discovered,” acting Police Commissioner Trevor Bailey revealed during a press conference on Saturday.
Bailey confirmed the victims bore what appeared to be bullet wounds. Four others were wounded in the attack, with two remaining in hospital, reports the Express.
The shootings happened in a suburb of Kingstown, in St Vincent(Image: Getty)
No arrests have been made and officers are still working to establish what sparked the horrific crime. Police confirmed they recorded another murder on Saturday, and are probing potential links to Friday evening’s bloodshed.
St. Clair Leacock, the national security minister, slammed the “unfortunate” and “unnecessary” killings during an interview with local broadcaster NBC Radio on Saturday. He stated that while St. Vincent and the Grenadines remains a peaceful nation, gang violence has blighted many communities.
Police have reported 37 murders this year in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a country with a population of 110,000.
Police have investigated 37 murders so far this year in a country of just 110,000 people.(Image: Getty)
The former British colony consists of 32 islands and cays in the eastern Caribbean and has long depended on tourism as its primary source of revenue.
The small archipelago is famed for its volcanic landscapes, pristine coral reefs and white sandy beaches, making it a favourite among yachting enthusiasts. It also boasts several private islands that cater to the wealthy and well-known.
“These homicides create a serious nightmare for us,” Leacock said.
