KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent — Police here on Tuesday issued the following statement on a shootout in Union Island that left four people, including a local Customs official dead.
“Investigations are continuing into circumstances surrounding the deaths of three Venezuelan and one Vincentian nationals in waters around Union Island, on Sunday June 3, 2012. Reports are that Police and Customs officers were patrolling the waters when they encountered a Venezuelan boat. Personnel on the boat opened fire at the law enforcement officials who returned fire, resulting in the deaths of the Venezuelans. Customs Guard Othniel ‘Money–Man’ White sustained gunshot wounds from hostile fire and died at the scene. One other Venezuelan national, who sustained gunshot injuries during the incident, is a patient at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.”