Police appeal for information as Bexon shooting fuels national outrage
CASTRIES, St Lucia — The Bexon shooting that devastated the community of L’Abbayee last week has now claimed a second victim, intensifying public anger at the government’s failure to curb an escalating wave of violence.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force confirmed that 51-year-old Gregory Felix, widely known as “Smiley,” died on Sunday, September 21, at the Owen King European Union Hospital. He had been in critical condition since September 18, when gunmen opened fire near an abandoned structure he frequented with a younger companion.
The first victim, 24-year-old Reo Maximin, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the attack, which occurred just after 4:30 p.m. The initial report of the shooting detailed how Maximin died on the spot and Felix was left clinging to life (read earlier coverage here).
Bexon remembers the victims
Felix, a farmer who regularly sold produce in Castries, had returned from the capital only hours before he was gunned down. Neighbors described him as a hardworking, quiet man who was not known to have any conflicts.
“Nobody can say anything bad about that man,” one resident said, reflecting the shock and grief spreading across Bexon.
The double homicide has shaken the rural community and added to the national outrage as St Lucia’s homicide tally climbed to 65 for 2025.
Violence surges across St Lucia
The Bexon killings are part of a broader spate of bloodshed. Several recent incidents underscore how widespread the crisis has become:
- A triple homicide in Vieux Fort, where three bodies were discovered in a vehicle at Vigier.
- A burnt vehicle in Canelles with a charred body inside, marking St Lucia’s fourth homicide in hours.
- Separate shootings in Grande Ravine, Dennery that left two more men dead.
These back-to-back killings have fueled demands for accountability and heightened skepticism about the government’s ability to stem the crisis.
Ministers speak under pressure
Government officials broke their silence only after mounting public discontent. Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire and Crime Prevention Minister Jeremiah Norbert issued statements urging residents to support police investigations, but their appeals have been met with sharp criticism.
Ernest Hilaire himself is facing scrutiny for a physical assault on a female journalist near Parliament, raising questions about his moral authority. Jeremiah Norbert continues to appear in court over a traffic violation case, even as he attempts to direct the very police force where he once served as a constable. His new role puts him in the ironic position of instructing officers who were once his superiors.
Their sudden calls for cooperation have been dismissed by many as reactive rather than proactive, highlighting a government more concerned with optics than solutions.
Police renew appeal
The Major Crimes Unit of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is leading the investigation into the Bexon double homicide. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact investigators at 456-3754, or submit tips anonymously via the Crime Hotline at 555 or through the RSLPF Crime Hotline App.
While police continue their work, the families of Felix and Maximin grieve their loved ones, and the people of Bexon are left to question whether words from government ministers carry any weight in the face of a relentless crime wave. The death of Felix marked St Lucia’s 65th homicide of 2025, a sobering figure that underscores the scale of the island’s public safety crisis.
Follow Unitedpac St Lucia News for continuing coverage of St Lucia’s crime crisis.
