Fear grips Vieux Fort after a burnt vehicle discovered in Canelles marks St Lucia’s fourth homicide in hours.
CASTRIES, St Lucia — A burnt vehicle discovered in Canelles with a body inside has pushed St Lucia’s homicide count higher Wednesday, marking the island’s fourth killing within just hours and deepening fears of a relentless crime surge.
The grim find comes on the heels of an earlier triple homicide in Vigier, Vieux Fort, where the bodies of two men and a woman were recovered from a vehicle in what initial reports suggested was an execution-style attack. Law enforcement sources confirmed that the charred vehicle in Canelles, located not far from the original crime scene, contained burnt human remains, though investigators have not yet released the victim’s identity.
Police investigators were still combing both crime scenes late Wednesday as they sought to piece together the circumstances behind the rapid succession of killings that have left the south of the island shaken. The Royal St Lucia Police Force has yet to issue an official statement on whether the two incidents are linked.
Residents described a tense atmosphere across Vieux Fort, with mounting unease following the discovery of four bodies in less than 24 hours. Authorities have not disclosed any suspects or possible motives.
The latest death pushes St Lucia’s homicide tally to at least 61 for the year, underscoring an escalating cycle of violence that has already drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and community advocates. Calls for urgent action to curb violent crime have intensified as the island continues to grapple with what many view as a worsening public safety crisis.
Unitedpac St Lucia News will continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.