Police probing possible connection in recent shooting deaths

Police here say that they are not yet able to determine if the shooting deaths that have occurred over the past weeks are related, although they follow a similar modus operandi.{{more}}

Assistant Superintendent of Police Sydney James, Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), told SEARCHLIGHT that investigations are continuing into the deaths of Kevin Greaves 36, Matthan Slater 39, Teshorne Richards 23, Chesley Dewer, and Godfrey Cumberbatch 42, who were all shot by an unknown assailant or assailants. James said that the men, with the exception of Cumberbatch, were all shot multiple times about their bodies. Cumberbatch was shot twice in the head as he lay in his bed with his girlfriend and daughter.

The CID head also noted that the men appeared to be shot with the same calibre weapon; a nine millimeter.

When asked about rumours that the men were part of an alleged drug deal that went sour, James said that he was not in a position to comment on that because “investigations are continuing.”

Like Cumberbatch, the men also appeared to be singled out and targeted by their killer(s). Dewer was shot several times as he sat on the porch of his Golden Vale home on June 14, shortly after his girlfriend had left his side and entered the house. Their little son and Dewer’s step-daughter were also in the house.

Greaves had just left the home of friends in Kingstown Park and had entered his vehicle, when he was sprayed with bullets by person or persons waiting in a parked SUV last Saturday, July 5.

On July 1, Richards was on his way to a shop in his Southwood community when he was blasted by unknown assailants.

SEARCHLIGHT was told that Slater, a Union Island resident, was believed to be on the mainland to attend the funeral of Cumberbatch on June 29, and was shot later that day. He died three days later.

So far, no one has been apprehended for any of the crimes.(JJ)