Police in Anguilla are busy investigating two separate shooting incidents on the island which left one young man dead and three others hospitalised; and a senior investigating officer is saying that there is some frustration in the investigations in that members of the public who may have information are not cooperating sufficiently.
The latest of the two incidents occurred on Monday night after ten o’clock when, according to a police report, there was a drive-by shooting when shots were fired at a group of youngsters near a telephone booth in close proximity to Blues & Blues Gas Station at Blowing Point.

Supt. Proctor and Deputy Commissioner Richardson at Press Conference

When the police arrived at the scene three persons were found suffering from multi-gunshot wounds: Morton Issac, about 19, Kevin Richardson, 17 and Devon Ryan, 20. They were admitted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital, where Ryan died later. Issac was subsequently flown to St. Kitts for further treatment.

The police, who said they were vigorously investigating the incident, are appealing for information from members of the public in the area who may have seen or know the person or persons who committed the crime. The police are also asking persons who may have seen a white 323 Mazda car speeding in the area and with registration plates partly concealed to help them in their investigations.

In the other incident, the police reported that on Saturday night, July 28, Leroy Mussington of Blowing Point was attacked while getting out of his car in the area of the discotheque in South Hill. Someone attacked him with a hand gun and a struggle ensued. The assailant got some assistance from an accomplice and Mussington was struck on the side of his face with an object believed to have been a block. He was also shot three times – in the arm, leg and upper body area. As a result, Mussington, who received initial treatment at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, was flown to Barbados for further treatment the following day, Sunday.
Commenting on the incidents, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Illidge Richardson, said: “It would appear that persons are resorting to violence as a means of getting even with people and making the job of the police more difficult. Over the years Anguilla has been known to be a very peaceful island and it is so hard to see that persons within the island are trying to destroy the peace and quiet that so many Anguillians and others enjoy – just because of differences.

“Secondly, I don’t think the people of Anguilla should accept that persons from one end of Anguilla cannot travel freely in another area of the island. I know there are social issues but I believe that we as a community need to be able to deal with these issues and all the people in Anguilla must get involved.”

Superintendent Rudolph Proctor, who is leading the investigations, said the police were disappointed over the lack of cooperation of persons who could assist with the investigations. “In order to bring these matters to a conclusion, people who see, hear and witness any of the incidents need to talk to the police,” he emphasised. “There is no room for the irresponsible chatter in terms of retaliation because we don’t know whom we are retaliating against and this retaliation may be against innocent people.”

He went on: “At this point there is a reluctance of persons to be forthcoming to the police so we are practically trying to extract information out of them and this is not helping our investigations going forward. Nevertheless the Criminal Investigation Unit and the Drugs and Firearms Task Force are vigorously pursuing all the leads that we are generating from our enquiries so far. We will continue to do this until we are in a position to charge
some person or persons for these horrible incidents.”

The Superintendent added: “We are interested in a white 323 Mazda and any reports of persons seen wearing masks or dark clothes. Anybody who would have seen such persons and vehicle speeding in the vicinities of Blowing Point, the Jeremiah Gumbs Highway there, the George Hill road, Sachasses and the Valley, should inform the police accordingly.”

Meanwhile, the senior police officers extended their condolences to the families and the victims and regretted that the incidents occurred close to the start of the Summer Festival thus causing some uneasiness among members of the public who would be attending the various shows. They promised that every effort would be made to ensure law and order and safety during the festivities.

In another story, the police officers reported that Marlon Petty was charged and remanded in custody for attempted murder. The charges arose out of an incident in which he allegedly shot and wounded a young woman, Decia Goodridge, who was sitting in a vehicle in the area of the Webster Park where the Labour Day activities were being held.

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