Five men, including one on bail for manslaughter and another who was shot multiple times in separate incidents, have been denied bail on separate gun charges, resulting from police operations on Saturday that netted two firearms and 21 rounds of ammunition.
Zane Dopwell, a 38-year-old mechanic, of Walvaroo, and Kyle Ragguette, a 33-year-old entrepreneur, of Long Wall, were jointly charged with possession of an illegal firearm and possession of ammunition.
The police are alleging that the men had in their possession one Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol and 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition, without licences issued under the Firearms Act, in Paul’s Avenue.
Dopwell and Ragguette appeared before the Serious Offences Court and pleaded not guilty. The court denied bail and remanded them in custody until the next hearing on Oct. 5.
Meanwhile, Tearon James, a 29-year-old mechanic; Terrell McLean, a 32-year-old tradesman; and Akeem Peniston, a 32-year-old labourer, all of Diamond, were jointly charged with possession of an illegal firearm and possession of ammunition.
The men allegedly had in their possession one Diamondback .380 semi-automatic pistol and six rounds of .380 ammunition, without licences issued under the Firearms Act, in Kingstown.
James, McLean and Peniston appeared before the Serious Offences Court and pleaded not guilty. The court denied bail, and the matter was adjourned to Oct. 12.
“The RSVGPF continues to encourage members of the public to provide information concerning illegal firearms, ammunition and other criminal activity. Information can be provided to Police Control at 457-1211 or the nearest police station,” police said, adding that investigations are continuing.
Two of the men are no strangers to headlines.
In May 2022, James, along with Lesroy Stapleton, then 22, also of Diamond, saw a manslaughter charge against them upgraded to murder.
The charge was in relation to the Jan. 29, 2022, stabbing death in Diamond, of Kevin George, a 23-year-old labourer, of Diamond.
The charge was later downgraded to manslaughter during a preliminary inquiry in January 2023, and the accused killers were granted EC$30,000 bail.
The manslaughter charge remains listed for a High Court hearing.
Meanwhile, Ragguette has been the victim of multiple gun attacks, including the Sept. 13, 2024 shooting in Paul’s Avenue that left Jawanza “Sanga” Fraser dead.
A bullet grazed Ragguette on the hand while Fraser was shot multiple times in the torso, resulting in his death at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, where he was taken for medical attention.
Ragguette was also one of two men shot and injured in Lowmans Bay around 2 a.m. on Dec. 11, 2022.
Ragguette was struck once in his upper right thigh, and two times in his right foot when a car in which they and Diallo Small, of Frenches, were travelling was riddled with bullets.
Small, who was 34 at the time, was shot three times in the upper body and two times in his lower body.
The men were leaving an entertainment event when the shooting took place.