Four killed in shooting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, manhunt under way

Four people were shot dead near the capital Kingstown in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Police launched a manhunt as the island nation recorded 37 murders this year.

Four dead after shooting outside Kingstown as gang violence rises

Four people were killed and four others wounded in a shooting in Green Hill, a district just outside the capital city of Kingstown in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, ctvnews.ca reports. Police launched a manhunt on Saturday after officers responding to reports of gunfire discovered the bodies late Friday night.

"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 said at a news conference on Saturday. Bailey said the corpses had what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

Two of the four injured remain hospitalised. There were no immediate arrests, and police said they were still working to determine a motive. Authorities also registered a separate killing on Saturday and were investigating whether it is connected to Friday night's shooting.

Minister of National Security St. Clair Leacock condemned the "unfortunate" and "unnecessary" shootings while speaking on local outlet NBC Radio. He acknowledged that while St. Vincent and the Grenadines remains largely peaceful, gang violence has troubled many communities. "These homicides create a serious nightmare for us," Leacock said.

Police recorded 37 murders so far this year in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a former British colony with a population of around 110,000. The archipelago consists of 32 islands and cays in the eastern Caribbean and depends heavily on tourism as its primary source of income.

The nation is known for its volcanic landscapes, coral reefs and white sand beaches, making it a popular yachting destination. It is also home to several private islands that attract wealthy visitors.

Source: Google News VC — Crime