Burglary suspect fatally wounded by police officers

Last weekend was a hectic one for members of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) as they responded to a burglary at a petrol service station.

The Rubis branded service station, located at Peruvian Vale, adjoins a restaurant and supermarket and burglars are said to have broken into the restaurant before moving over to the supermarket. The alarm was triggered at about 3:00 am and police responded promptly.

Campden Park resident Keithon James (deceased) is said to have fired a gun at the police officers

The premises are monitored by Guardsman.

It is alleged that in an attempt to make good his escape, one of the burglars fired a gun at the police officers. The police responded, wounding 21-year-old Campden Park resident Keithon James.

James was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) where he later died. Another male burglar suspect was detained at the scene in Peruvian Vale.

Later that day, at around 10 am on the Campden Park public road, police officers in two unmarked vehicles intercepted a black Nissan Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

It is suspected that the SUV was connected with the burglary at the service station.

According to a witness, one of the officers shouted for the vehicle to stop, but the driver attempted to drive off. The police fired shots, disabling the vehicle by shooting out one of the front tires. Two males and a female were taken from the vehicle.

A fourth man is said to have been detained in the Clare Valley area. It is alleged that he was also involved in the Peruvian Vale burglary.

A police source said four persons were involved in the Peruvian Vale burglary.

All of the detained men are known to police and the SUV is said to be a rental vehicle owned by a prominent lawyer.

Commissioner of Police (COP) Colin John said the matter is under investigation.

James, the man killed by police on Sunday, is no stranger to the law.

On July 3, 2018, he was charged with the attempted murder of Kaymany Williams, a 30-year-old mason of Campden Park who was shot in his stomach on June 13, 2018.

Later that year on November 24, at Campden Park, James threatened to shoot Gilmore John of Campden Park, a witness who was set to testify in the attempted murder case. He was charged on December 4.

He was found guilty of issuing the threat and on Monday December 10, 2018 and Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett sent him to prison for two months; the maximum imprisonment for threatening language being three months.

James was discharged on the attempted murder charge on July 29, 2019 at the Serious Offences Court at the end of a preliminary inquiry.

On Monday, SEARCHLIGHT visited the area in Campden Park where James lived. A 17-year-old female who identified herself as James s girlfriend refused to speak to the media.

She however noted that he would not want her to cry over his demise. A family friend said the deceased man s mother was not at home.

James, the third man to be killed by police this year, is the son of a former police officer who was attached to the local drug squad. The former policeman now resides overseas and is said to still be involved in law enforcement.