9-month pregnant woman shot, killed

Vanessa Williams, a 23-year-old woman of Lower Questelles, was due to have a baby on Thursday, June 25. But she never lived to make the delivery. She was shot and killed while sleeping in her residence last Friday morning June 16. According to a release from the Public Relations and Complaints Department, Williams died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.{{more}}

Police are continuing investigations into that killing. The circumstances leading up to this death bear the mark of a chilling encounter.

Williams migrated to St. Vincent from Trinidad and Tobago about seven years ago. Popularly known as “South” because of her homeland, Williams gradually adapted to the ways of her new homeland. A hairdresser by profession, Williams was, perhaps, looking forward to a new addition to her family.

She was shot at about 3 a.m. while she slept on the same bed as her common-law husband. He escaped unhurt.

Information from Williams’ relatives is that she slept with the window open so as to take advantage of the natural air-conditioning. Her house is on the link road, which runs to the Clare Valley area. The house is a few feet from the road and appears to have proved easily accessible to the gunman.

Indications are that the incident may have been linked to some other activities which occurred in the South Leeward district.

According to police reports, Iraul Murray, a 36-year-old labourer of Rilland Hill was hospitalised with gunshot wounds to his arm and back after he was approached by two masked gunmen who opened fire on his vehicle. That incident occurred at Chauncey around 8:10 last week Thursday night.

Police are also investigating that incident.