A manhunt is underway after four people were shot dead in the Caribbean island nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines. The shooting spree occurred on Friday in Green Hill, a district just outside the capital, Kingstown.
The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area. Four people were also injured in the shooting, with two of them still hospitalised.
Police discover four bodies
Acting Police Commissioner Trevor Bailey said at a news conference on Saturday that two bodies were found lying on the public road, a female body was discovered in a vehicle parked on the public road, and another body was found on an adjacent piece of land. Bailey said the corpses had what appeared to be gunshot wounds.
There have been no immediate arrests, and police said they were still trying to determine the motive for the crime. Police also registered another killing on Saturday and were investigating whether it is linked to Friday night's shooting.
Minister condemns shootings
St Clair Leacock, the minister of national security, condemned the “unfortunate” and “unnecessary” shootings while speaking on NBC Radio, a local news outlet, on Saturday. He said that while St Vincent and the Grenadines remains a peaceful country, gang violence has plagued many communities.
“These homicides create a serious nightmare for us,” Leacock said.
Rising murder toll
According to police, 37 murders have been recorded this year in St Vincent and the Grenadines, a country with a population of 110,000. Authorities have struggled to contain gang violence.
The former British colony is made up of 32 islands and cays in the eastern Caribbean and has long relied on tourism as its main source of income. The archipelago is known for its volcanic landscapes, untouched coral reefs and white sand beaches, making it a popular yachting destination, and is home to several private islands that cater to the rich and famous.
