Police say that their investigation into the triple homicide in Belmont on May 16 continues, although Kesroy Ryan, 25, of Lowmans Windward, has been charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.
“This is not the end of the investigation. In fact, it has just commenced and St. Vincent and the Grenadines can rest assured that the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force will leave no stone unturned in finding the other killers that are involved,” acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Trevor “Buju” Bailey told a press conference in Kingstown on Monday.
“And I want to underscore that we’re going to find you and bring you to justice,” said Bailey, who is responsible for crime fighting and is leading the investigation into the triple homicide.
On Monday, Ryan appeared before the Serious Offences Court on charges that on May 16, at Belmont, he murdered Lesline Davis, Demeon Cumberbatch, and Joel Browne and attempted to murder Bancroft Abbott, Lorna Davis, and Hayden Ballantyne.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded in custody until June 2 for the prosecution to tell the court how they intend to proceed.
During the press conference, Bailey confirmed that surveillance footage of the shooting was circulating on social media.
The video shows Cumberbatch and Browne, who were inside the customers’ section of the shop, being shot even before the shooters entered the businessplace.
One of the men collapsed to the ground while the other slumped as he held the right side of his chest.
About the same time, Davis appeared to jump or fall off the seat she was sitting on behind the counter, as an individual wearing a clown mask with a red nose and a long-sleeved hoodie entered the shop and continued to fire at her.
Shortly after, the shooter appears to be fiddling with the firearm, suggesting that it might have jammed.
As that shooter left the shop, gunfire continued, and almost immediately, a second individual entered the shop through the other door, pointed a gun over the counter and shot Davis repeatedly.
Both individuals then left the shop as the gunfire continued.
“… our investigation is not limited to just a video footage,” Bailey said as he fielded questions at the press conference.
“Our investigation is thorough and detailed, and as stated on … Saturday [May 17], dots create lines, lines lead us to places, and we are prepared to walk and get there,” Bailey said.
Speaking at the same press conference, acting Commissioner of Police, Enville Williams, who was overseas when the shooting took place, urged the public to continue to cooperate with investigators of the triple homicide and other crimes across the country.
“Gun-related offences continue to be problematic, not just in St. Vincent but across our region, and we are doing all that we can do collaboratively across our region to tackle this scourge effectively,” Williams said.
“And part of tackling this scourge effectively, we rely on you, Vincentians, like-minded Vincentians, law Vincentians to work with us to rid our streets of illegal firearms and ammunition.”
The triple killing in Belmont took place three days after businessman Stephen King aka King-O, 76, of Green Hill, was shot and killed in similar manner while sitting on his patio around noon, leaving his family and community wondering about the motive for his murder.
As the gunmen moved in on him, neighbours heard King shouting, “What I do you? What I do you? Please don’t kill me!”
However, his pleas fell on deaf ears as two assailants opened fire on the senior citizen before fleeing the scene in a car.
King operated an appliance business from a store near his home.
Police said that masked assailants entered King’s property and shot him multiple times before fleeing.
King died at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital shortly after the shooting.
May has been the bloodiest month in St. Vincent and the Grenadines this year, registering six of the 16 homicides.
This compares to 2024, when there were no killings in May and the count at the end of April was 17.
In 2024, the country recorded 54 homicides, just one less than the record set the previous year and the 42 in 2022.
On May 14, 2024, Ronaldo Adams, 21, of Glen, died at the MCMH, where he was taken after being stabbed during an altercation, reportedly over plumrose.
Police have charged DeAndre McDonald, a 26-year-old barber, also of Glen, with murder in connection with that killing.
Then, residents of Vermont who had heard gunfire Thursday night met Denzil Harry aka Glenville Harry, a 42-year-old farmer, dead at his house when they went to check on him Friday.
Police are asking anyone with information that can assist their investigations to telephone +1784-456-1810, +1784-457-1211, 999, 911 or their nearest police station.
Alternatively, they can speak with any police officer.