In a horrifying incident that has left a Caribbean island nation reeling, a mass shooting has claimed the lives of five individuals.
On the night of Wednesday, July 19, reports of a mass shooting summoned the law enforcement agencies of Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ capital city, to the Harbor Club district.
The unfortunate crowd became the target of a violent shooting spree when the attackers, arriving in a vehicle, opened fire. The shooting incident led to the death of five people, among them a 13-year-old boy. An assault weapon is believed to have been used, as per the investigators.
The potential of retaliatory acts has been raised as a concern following this incident. At a press conference held on Thursday, July 20, Police Commissioner Colin John highlighted the seriousness of the situation.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who was in Morocco on an official tour, sent a video message expressing his condolences to the bereaved families. He committed to ensuring justice, promising to track down the perpetrators and instigators of the violence.
In his statement, acting Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel emphasized that the government is taking these criminal acts very seriously. He pledged to reveal the identities and motives of the individuals involved in the act. Daniel also noted that some of the victims had survived past assassination attempts.
It’s worth mentioning that the United States is cooperating with Caribbean countries to tackle crime and violence. The recent meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Caribbean leaders in Trinidad involved discussions on curbing the illegal gun trade from the U.S. to the Caribbean.