Police Officer kills assailant

Police here are hoping that the man shot and killed by them on Monday is the elusive person who has been terrorizing women in the suburbs of Kingstown over the last several months.{{more}}

They have since sent out a call for persons who were assaulted to view the body of Verrol Carden Williams, in an effort to ascertain if he may be the suspect in a series of crimes.

At a press conference held on Wednesday evening at Police Headquarters, Commissioner of Police Keith Miller gave the details surrounding the death of 56-year-old Williams who was said to be residing in Georgetown.

According to Miller, at about 6:30 p.m. on Monday November 24, a police office in patrol in the Villa area saw a female being attacked.

The officer identified himself to the assailant, who shot at him, Miller said. The officer returned fire and shot Williams in the chest.

Williams succumbed to his injury at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

The assault victim was also taken to the hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.

Miller said several items were retrieved from Williams’ person, including a Florida driver’s license, a cell phone, a national identification card and a pair of dark stockings, which could have been used to conceal his face.

Miller indicated that the police were not about to jump to conclusions, but said that the build of the deceased is similar to that of the description given by previous complainants and victims.

He also said that DNA samples were taken from Williams and have been sent overseas for analysis.

Miller commended the police for swift and decisive action, stating that the assault victim was a foreigner who was assisting the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and he was relieved that the incident did not reach to the extreme.

Investigative work by SEARCHLIGHT reveals that Williams may have returned to St. Vincent less than three weeks ago, after doing a stint in prison in St. Maarten.

He was said to have resided in the United States, Barbados and Bequia, before travelling to St. Maarten.

Although the deceased could possibly be the person wanted by police in a string of sexual assaults and robberies, a police source is urging women not to let their guard down and to continue taking the necessary safety precautions.

The police have promised updates in relation to the incident. (JJ/KW/KJ)