Triple murder accused was being treated for ‘mental illness’ — sources

Leon John, the second man to be charged in connection with the May 16 triple homicide in Belmont, was being treated for an alleged mental health condition, multiple sources have told iWitness News.

Sources said that the 28-year-old man had been on medication for his condition for some time.

One resident of the East St. George community told iWitness News that John had had multiple run-ins with members of a particular extended family, resulting in the intervention of the police on several occasions.

Still, other residents of the village expressed shock at hearing that John had allegedly been diagnosed with and had been taking treatment for a mental illness.

On Monday, John appeared before the Serious Offences Court charged with three counts of murder in relation to the death of Lesline Davis, a 68-year-old businesswoman; Demeon Cumberbatch, a 38-year-old labourer; and Haynesly Browne, a 30-year-old labourer, all of Belmont.

Davis, Cumberbatch and Browne died at the scene inside Davis’ shop, where two assailants opened fire on them in what appeared to be an unprovoked attack between 9 p.m. and 9:03 p.m. on May 16.

John was also charged with attempting to murder Haydon Ballantyne, a 60-year-old labourer; Celesta Davis, a 68-year-old chef; and Bon Abbott, a 56-year-old plumber, all of Belmont,  during the same incident at Belmont on May 16, 2025.

On May 24, Kesroy Ryan, a 25-year-old labourer of Lowmans Leeward, was charged with the same offences.

The accused men have each been denied bail and are slated to reappear in court on July 2.

Acting Commissioner of Police Enville Williams announced the charges against John at a press conference in Kingstown on Monday, which was also attended by acting Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for crime fighting, Trevor “Buju” Bailey.

Fielding questions, Bailey, who is leading the investigation into the triple homicide, said that detectives have not closed the investigation, despite two people being charged.

“We are looking at whether or not these persons were supported in any way by any other, whether or not there was any conspiracy, whether or not they were aided and abetted in committing these offences,” the senior detective said.

“That aspect of the investigation is very much alive and well.”

On May 24, when police announced the charges against Ryan, Bailey said that police had established a motive for the killings but were not prepared to disclose it at that stage.

On Monday, he reiterated that the evidence in the case would be disclosed in a court of law.

“… we can say that the investigation thus far has clearly revealed the reason or the reasons why the killing took place. We’re not prepared to start giving evidence at a press conference. Rather, we’d await the trial of this matter,” Bailey said.

He said, however, that the public should not be unduly concerned about their safety in light of the killings.

“I’ll say that the reasons for the killing … was limited to what transpired in the shop,” Bailey said.

“So, it was not a case where somebody just left home and the first shop that they met, they just went in and shoot up a shop. It was not a case like that. But the circumstances were limited to the events in the shop.”

Asked if the killings were targeted, Bailey said:

“Those are your choice of words. I’m saying that what happened was limited to the shop.”

The Belmont triple homicide occurred 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.

Police had noted the similarity in the killings and had said that they would try to determine whether there was any link between them.

The team of detectives that is investigating the Belmont homicides has also been assigned to the King murder case.

On Monday, Bailey said the investigation into King’s death was “progressing nicely”.

“We are following all of our leads. The team, we are comfortable where we are at this stage in the investigation, and the work is progressing in a manner in which we are relatively satisfied with the progress thus far.”

Bailey said that by “nicely” he meant “we receive information, when we receive tips, and we follow, we can see natural progression, and we can see that the information that is coming forward, it connects with that which we already know, hence the term ‘it is coming together nicely’”.

The police have brought charges in the Belmont homicide case even as they are yet to make an arrest in connection with the July 2023 murder of five males in Kingstown and the killing of three people in Paul’s Avenue in December 2024.

“The cooperation of the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is crucial and critical,” Bailey said regarding how police were able to crack the Belmont triple homicide case.

“Now, when we have a case where people are armed with the information and that information is shared with the police, you tend to see rapid progression. In some circles, even though the information is there, it is being withheld for whatever reason,” he said.

The senior police officer said this poses a greater challenge to investigators “in moving at a pace that is satisfactory to us”.

Bailey said, however, this does not mean that investigators are not going to “throw all of our resources at the case.

“We are looking at them actively, every day, and we we’re still knocking at doors and we’re still asking the persons out there who are armed with the information to share that information with us because you have proof that when such information is shared with the police, you see the results, and all of us are concerned with regards to the use of firearm and firearm-related offenses in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

He noted that the primary responsibility for investigating crimes lies with the police, “but that synergy that we seek to forge every day, when it materialises, the end results are that those who are among us who are not law-abiding get their chance in the court of law.

“And that is what we seek to do every day, work closer with our community, building a tighter network between law enforcement and the general public, with one intent: to create a safe St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”