By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Saturday 18th August 2018)– While four individuals have been taken into police custody in relation to today’s shooting death of 44-year-old Sergeant Powell, authorities on St.Kitts are currently conducting a manhunt for another person of interest who has been on the run since last year.
Wanted by police is 37-year-old Vincent Taylor who has two given residential addresses namely McKnight and Sandy Point.
At a police press conference held today at the Police Training Complex in New Town, Basseterre, members of the media were updated on the homicide case by members of the Police High Command-Police Commissioner Ian Queeley; Deputy Police Commissioner Hilroy Brandy and Assistant Police Commissioner Andre Mitchell.
According to police, he is “considered armed and dangerous.”
Notably, police have yet to catch up to Taylor who is wanted for an armed robbery committed in Sandy Point on the day after Christmas last year (Tuesday 26th December 2017).
Anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact the Violent Crime Unit by dialing 467-1887, 467-1888, 662-3462 or the nearest police station.
According to Brandy “Police are eager to get him in custody.”
As it relates to the four persons in police custody, ACP Mitchell explained that it is too early to say whether or not they would be charged.
“Our investigators are working assiduously this morning up to now. We are hoping that we can bring this matter to a resolution in quick time. I cannot speak to if these persons would be arrested and charge; these persons are being interviewed [and] their alibis or whatever have to be checked out and so there are a number of things that have to be done before we can make a statement in terms of arrests so it’s early…and we are asking you to bare with us as out investigators continue to inquire into this homicide.”
He went on to thank members of the public for their cooperation during the investigation.
“The public has been providing a lot of information …which has led to these persons being in custody and information continues to come in so we’ll see what happens.”
COP Queeley has expressed that he is “deeply saddened and totally outraged as we mourn the loss of a very loyal and committed police officer. ”
He has given commitment that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
At about 1:00 AM this morning, police received a report of an armed robbery in Newton Ground at Powell’s owned and operated bar.
Investigations revealed that two armed, masked men entered the bar and demanded money from him.
Reportedly, a struggle ensued between Powell and one of the armed men and one of them shot him several times about the body.
He succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Powell’s death is the 18th recorded homicide in St.Kitts-Nevis to date for 2018.