A 25-year-old Purcell Estate man was fatally shot shortly after 2 a.m. Monday in central Road Town, police said.
The body of Julio Rivera was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the main parking lot on Wickhams Cay I, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Police Information Office.
Police provided no further information about the incident, though they said the Major Crime Team is investigating and urged the public to come forward with any information that might help identify the perpetrators.
Previous deaths
The killing is the sixth fatal shooting this year. The first came on the afternoon of Feb. 6, when Yan Edwards, who himself was facing a murder charge for a 2011 killing, succumbed to gunshot wounds he sustained at Parham Town in East End. Two people have been charged with perverting the course of justice in connection with the ongoing investigation into the incident, but no murder charges have been announced.
Less than a week after Mr. Edwards was killed, St. Vincent and the Grenadines native Jahkeem Christopher was shot to death on Feb.12 near the House of Assembly building in Road Town, police said. In connection with Mr. Christopher’s death, Greenland resident Hasani Frett was charged with murder, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, police said at the time.
On April 30, Kemo Lettsome, 37, of Long Look, was fatally wounded in a shooting at a Long Look residence near The Stickett, police said. No charges have been announced.
About a month later, Vicardo “Scar” Farrell, a33-year-old resident of Major Bay, was shot early in the morning of May 27 in the Manchester area, and he subsequently died from his injuries, according to the Police Information Office. Mr. Farrell was previously charged with the 2016 murder of Devern “Snoopy” Stanley, but he was set free after a High Court judge ruled last November that there was insufficient evidence against him. No charges have been announced in connection with Mr. Farrell’s killing.
Azim Yonnas, a 26-year-old Butu Mountain man, was shot on the night of Sept. 3 in the area of The Edge Nightclub in Long Bush, police said at the time. Mr. Yonnas was transported to the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, according to police. No charges have been announced.
Tip line
Anyone with information about the Monday night shooting can report tips anonymously to the Crime Stoppers hotline by calling 800-8477 (TIPS) locally or 1-284-800-8477 from overseas. The police Intelligence Unit can also be reached directly at 368-9339. Police pledged that all provided information will be treated with the “utmost confidentiality.”