BOOM FM’s DJ Swagga was shot and killed while hanging out with other people near the radio station in Paul’s Avenue around midnight on Friday.
The DJ, whose real name is Gasroy Fergusson, died at the scene, while another man was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire after exiting a vehicle.
A reliable source said that Fergusson appeared to have been shot multiple times in the head, while the injured man, whose identity iWitness News was yet to verify, was taken to the hospital with gunshot injuries to the arm and back.
iWitness News understands that another BOOM FM employee, who was inside the radio station, was among the first to find his dying colleague in the street.
The employee had passed people hanging out in the area when they entered the station on Friday night, but had not known that his colleague was among them.
Sometime later, the employee heard explosions that they initially thought were people banging against the galvanise during their interactions.
The employee checked the station’s security system and saw movements at a shop nearby and other residents looking over their patios.
When the employee exited the station, they saw people in the road and heard someone begging to be taken to the hospital, which someone did.
People then told the Boom FM employee that Swagga was lying in the road.
When the employee went to the area, they met their colleagues in the road, his body shaking for what would be the last time.
The DJ had gunshot injuries to the head and his legs.
By this time, people who had been hanging out in the area began to return and said that a black car had pulled up in the area and begun shooting, and everyone ran.
They said that it appeared that Swagga was shot in the leg and fell as he and the other people attempted to flee.
The assailant is said to have stood over him and shot him multiple times in the head before fleeing the scene.
The Boom FM employee said that they did not know Swagga to be involved in anything untoward and theorised that he was “collateral damage”.
“It could have been me leaving the station. I cudda pick up stray bullet,” the employee said, adding, “I don’t even know what to think right now.
The shooting, one of several that have taken place in the Kingstown community over the years, came even as Dwight “Bing” Joseph, manager of Boom FM, has been calling for police presence in the area.
Joseph was still trying to process the killing when he spoke to iWitness News around 1 a.m. on Saturday.
“I am tired of this. I am constantly on the radio begging for security in here,” he said.
Joseph noted that the radio station is also near the headquarters of the National Lotteries Authority, Metrocint General Insurance and other businesses.
He also said that Paul’s Avenue is also a residential area in which some people sometimes live like prisoners in their homes after dark.
“I just can’t believe it. Swagga is one of my favourite employees. If I don’t come to work a day, Swagga would call me,” Joseph told iWitness News.
He said that the DJ, who was previously employed at Hot 97 FM, has been with Boom since around the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sometime around the time of the pandemic, there was a 24-hour police presence in Paul’s Avenue and another Kingstown community for over a year, amidst an ongoing gang war.
However, those police details were later called off and replaced with units patrolling the area intermittently or deployed there for a few days at a time.
iWitness News understands that after the shooting death of Jawansa Sanga Fraser on Sept. 13, 2024, a senior national security official told a member of Boom FM’s management that there was no longer any need for concern about security in the area as the “head of the snake” had been cut off.
I think it’s high time for we have a curfew put in place …you wanna be treated like hostiles then everyone will be treated as such
Why is Joseph complaining about police presence in the area? The entire Paul’s Avenue should have cameras so the police can see anyone entering and leaving.
So why didn’t Joseph place cameras close the building? He should not depend on the police for protection. The area has seen many murders for several years, so why aren’t there many cameras in the area.
The minister of security is not performing his job seriously. The ULP is incapable of handling the security needed to keep Vincentians alive. It is time for Friday to talk to the people and explain how he will protect them from murderers. It will be helpful for all NDP candidates to talk to their constituencies about what problem they are experiencing in their communities.
The death penalty has to be reintroduced to handle the murders taking place in SVG and other Caribbean islands. What do these people expect when they want to jail mothers, grand-parents and teachers from disciplining the youths? These folks are afraid of the BABY magistrates and judges who allow this behavior to flourish and end up with an increase in crime. Meanwhile the youths are not afraid of ANYBODY!
The system of reducing the number of years that criminals have to serve in jail is ridiculous. I have notice where judges reduce the number of years for lots of crappy entities. Fifty years for murder of other crimes should be FIFTY YARES.
The ULP is incapable of handling the economy and crime and should be voted out. Dancing with the Soca Baptist folks is not helping to reduce crime in SVG. Ralph is looking for their votes to keep him in power.
Why don’t IWN name the security official who claim no need for concern for the Paul’s Avenue area. His head should be removed form the job?
The tail of some snakes are as dangerous as the head.
Abba Father, for the sake of Your sorrowful passion , have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Taiwan has donated so many cctv cameras and other surveillance devices. Where are they? Next thing, the cops will come with: “don’t speculate and if you know anything come to us” The whole thing is turning into a big fat joke! The youths are not afraid of anybody.
I noticed that the news hasn’t been updated since August 18th, 2025. Could you please provide an update?
https://www.iwnsvg.com/donate/