The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 13, 2017
VOLUME 111, No.41
www.thevincentian.com
EC$1.50
Deputy COP offers condolences in police shooting
Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS “PERHAPS NOW that one of the culprits has been shot, the burglaries would stop. I’m sorry that that boy had to get himself killed, but he should have known that if he played with fire he would get burn, sometime.” That was the comment of one resident of Cane Garden, made following the fatal shooting by police of a burglar, who had invaded yet another residence in that community, one of the more ‘built-up’ areas on mainland St. Vincent. Reports are that police shot and killed Leon ‘Buyaka’ Samuel of New Montrose, while he was in the act of committing burglary at the home of an Arab businessman, around 4:00pm last Tuesday. THE VINCENTIAN understands that the police were called to the scene by another resident, who had spotted Samuel and another man, as they were about to enter the businessman’s abode. That resident was reportedly the victim of a
burglary the day before. Indications are that the men had already entered the house and packed a duffle bag of items, before the police arrived. Leon ‘Buyaka’ Samuel, known to the Having surrounded courts here, met his death in the act of the property, the lawmen shouted to the notching up another successful burglary. men to exit the Ricardo Bacchus of Long Wall building. When they appeared not to heed the lawmen’s request, with burglarising the Majestic Express Building and the Fred J the officers stormed the house. Dare and Co Ltd stores, and In the act of doing so, Samuel stealing money amounting in is said to have attacked and total to some $62,000, in 2016. wounded a police officer with a Cane Garden has been a crow bar, upon which the police ‘popular playground’ for burglars, opened fire and he was hit. maybe because of its perceived Samuel was taken to the affluence. Milton Cato Memorial Hospital Residents speak of a spate of where he was pronounced dead. burglaries in the area dating The other assailant, identified back to 2015. as George Kirk Williams of Sion They report that most of these Hill, remains in police custody. burglaries have been committed A white Toyota Corolla (motor during daylight hours, as many car), parked some distance away houses are not occupied during from the scene of the burglary, working hours. was said to have been This has, according to one impounded. It is, one source said, resident, “necessitated the being considered as a getaway installation of burglar bars or vehicle for teh burglars. expensive security systems by Both Samuel and many home owners.” Williams were currently Calls have been made for on bail. increased police patrols in the Samuel had been jointly charged with area, but some residents say that this call does not seem to have Williams and been heeded by the local constabulary. Many homes in Further consternation has Cane Garden, set in among residents whose especially those homes have been burglarized. occupied by retired They claim that many of those senior citizens, cases remain unresolved, as is have become the case with this publication’s virtual jails, with editor, whose home at Cane burglar bars Garden was burglarized, in installed on every November 2015. window and entrance/exit. Continued on Page 3.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER of Police Colin John, performing duties as Acting Commissioner in the absence of Commissioner Renold Hadaway (Ag.), currently on vacation leave, has offered condolences to the family of 34-year-old Leon ‘Buyaka’ Samuel of New Montrose, who was shot dead by police, during a burglary at Cane Garden on Tuesday. Even as he offered And John has condolences to the family assured that the of Leon Samuel, Depity Police High Command would put COP Colin John appealed to family members to help things in place to keep their relatives away ensure that a Coroner’s Inquest is from a life of crime. conducted as quickly as possible, to determine the circumstances surrounding Samuel’s death. “It is very difficult losing a relative under whatever circumstances,” John told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, adding, “(But) family members must use their influence to encourage their relatives not to embark on a life of crime.” The Deputy Commissioner explained that, “The law gives the police the authority to use reasonable force under certain circumstances, and one such circumstance is the protection of their lives.” John said that, according to his information, around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, police received a report of burglary at the home of a businessman at Cane Garden. The lawmen responded promptly, and met Samuel and Kirk Williams, 37, of Sion Hill on the premises where the burglary was reported to have occurred. According to the information, Samuel attacked one of the officers with a crowbar and the officer responded by shooting him in the chest. He was taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Williams, who was unharmed, was apprehended at the scene and taken into police custody. The Deputy Commissioner said he could not give further details on the matter as it was under investigation, and up to press time Wednesday, Williams was assisting the police with those investigations.