By: Precious Mills

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Monday, 3rd September 2018)– Acting on information provided by members of the public, fugitive Vincent Taylor was shot dead following a shootout with police on Friday 31st August after being found on a premises located at Bouncing Hill, Sandy Point two days after his 38th birthday.

“On the particular premises of the incident where he was located, permission was sought from the owner to enter the premises and once granted, the security forces proceeded. While searching the premises, Taylor was spotted and without hesitation, he proceeded to open fire on the officers. They returned fire. One officer was shot injured,” Commissioner of Police Ian Queeley informed during a press conference held on Saturday 1st September at the Police Training Complex in Newtown.

After living as a fugitive for over six (6) months, he was wanted in connection with two crimes- the August 2018 shooting death of Sergeant Leon Powell and a December 2017 armed robbery at a supermarket in Sandy Point. His wanted poster was subsequently reissued.

Sgt. Powell was shot dead on Saturday 18th August at about1 AM at his bar located in his home community of Newton Ground. As investigation unfolded and more information became available, Taylor became the prime suspect.

After losing that gun fight to police this past weekend, Sgt. Powell’s issued weapon-which was used to fatally wound him (Sgt. Powell)-was found at the scene where Taylor was killed.

As disclosed by the top cop: “On Friday 31st August, members of the special joint team conducting a search operation for the wanted man. Acting on information, the team cordoned off an area in Bouncing Hill which had several premises within the cordon and proceeded to search the area.”

Taylor was shot multiple times about his body and died at the scene.

Queeley said investigators from the Violent Crime Unit commenced their investigations and technicians from the Forensic Unit visited and processed the scene.

‘I’ve been advised that according to our records, the pistol used by Vincent Taylor to shoot and injure our officer was the department’s firearm issued to our fallen colleague Sergeant Powell. It was also reported that he relieved of his firearm by his attackers during the time of his death,” the COP also shared.

He explained that the ballistic works carried out on the bullets and other shell casing found on the scenes have just been completed and  the “results indicate that it was his (Sgt. Powell) weapon that was relieved of at the time that was used to kill him.”

COP Queeley went on to say that Taylor at the time of his death was also carrying a black bag pack with a mask, a pair of gloves, tie straps and a knife.

Those items, he said, are in police custody as “we believe there are of some evidential value to the investigations.”

He pointed out that “also on another premises which we believe he had been occupying that was searched, there are other items of evidential value that were found and taken into police custody from that scene.”

He commended persons who had been working behind the scenes in the various departments on these cases.

According to him: “Our officers and technicians have been exerting commendable efforts with the limited resources at our disposal given the recent gun-related incidents that they are currently dealing with.”

COP Queeley has also commended “members of the public who came forward in an overwhelming way who have offered support and have carried out their civic duties in assisting the police in this matter.”

He added: “We would not have found him without your help. You have given police renewed hope. Hope that there are still many who are on the side of law and order.”