Tuesday night shootings may be linked, sources say

Investigators are looking into the possibility that two shootings that took place on Tuesday December 5, 2023 may be linked.

Gun violence in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) continued into this week, as on Tuesday night, minutes apart, two men turned up at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) with gunshot wounds.

This came on the heels of a bloody weekend here, in which four men were shot, two of whom died.

On Tuesday, Just before 9 pm on the date in question, heavy gunfire rang out in Green Hill, startling some residents of the Central Kingstown community with one man saying on social media that he felt as if his house was being shot up and as a result hid in his bathroom.

When the gunshots died down, it was revealed that Junior “Red” Woods, a self-employed resident of Green Hill and his girlfriend were targeted by an unknown assailant while on their way home in motor vehicle P4556, a blue Starlet.

Woods sustained gunshot wounds to both legs during the attack and police later arrived at the scene, where the Crime Scene Unit retrieved spent shells.

While Woods was at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of the MCMH, Michael Olan Lyscott of Old Montrose, also known as “Metal”, a 20-year-old unemployed man turned up with a gunshot wound to his leg.

The circumstances surrounding Lyscott’s injuries are currently under investigation. Reports are that after receiving treatment, Lyscott checked himself out of hospital without the permission of medical staff.

Both men; Woods and Lyscott are no stranger to the law and on Monday, Lyscott turned up at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court where he is answering a wounding charge.

In June this year, Lyscott was given a one year prison sentence, suspended for one year, after he threw a beer bottle at his 16-year-old brother, cutting him in the head.

Lyscott pleaded guilty to wounding his younger brother and walked out of the Serious Offences Court on June 16, having been given an opportunity to redeem himself. At the time of the offence, Lyscott was on a one year bond that he thought had already expired and was given an opportunity by the court after the bond was not activated.

Lyscott was bonded in 2022 for one year in the sum of $2,500 with a default of six months in prison, on a charge of damage to property.

In relation to Woods, on Friday May 5, 2017, he was the driver of a vehicle with a bogus number plate in which two men with guns were found.

One of the men, Gershon Cole-Woods, of Belair, disappeared in 2017 and is listed as a missing person while the other, Colin “Cocoa” David, of Fair Hall is out of prison after serving time for the gun the police found him with on May 5, 2017.

Meanwhile, the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) is urging anyone with information related to any crime that has been committed to come forward.

Persons may call 999/911/457-1211, or reach out to the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department at 456-1810, or any police station or police officer they are comfortable speaking with.

“All information provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

“The RSVGPF remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community and will spare no effort in bringing those responsible for these incidents to justice.

“If You See Something, Say Something! Do not cover up for the criminals. Work with the Police and share any information that you may have. Together, we can prevent crime, arrest and prosecute criminals, and make our communities safer,” a police press release said.