SOUFRIERE, St. Lucia — Clayus Joseph, 38, of Fond Benier, Soufriere, has been confirmed dead following the Soufriere Mini Stadium shooting on Monday, as a major joint police operation across Palmiste resulted in ten arrests and the recovery of ammunition.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force identified Joseph, known as “Gramaxone,” in an official statement confirming his death and detailing the subsequent security sweep. A second individual injured in the same incident remains unidentified by authorities at this time.
The shooting occurred around midday on Monday, April 27, as workers prepared the stadium grounds for the Soufriere Jazz event scheduled for May 2. Joseph, who was among those wounded in the attack, succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Joint Operation Recovers Ammunition, Ten Taken Into Custody
Between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Monday, officers from five units conducted a coordinated operation across Palmiste, Soufriere. The units involved were the Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit, the Special Operations Team, the Soufriere Police Station, the Special Services Unit, and the Tactical Response Unit.
During the operation, officers carried out foot patrols, random checks, sweeps, and area searches. They recovered five 9mm rounds of ammunition and five rounds of high-powered .223 calibre ammunition. Ten individuals, six males and four females, were arrested and taken into custody.
The scale of the response and the range of units deployed signal that authorities are treating the Soufriere shooting death as part of a broader pattern of criminal activity in the area rather than an isolated incident.
Police Urge Public to Come Forward in Clayus Joseph Killing Investigation
No charges had been publicly announced against those arrested as of the time of publication, and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force had not confirmed whether any of the ten individuals in custody were directly linked to the shooting. Due process remains in effect for all persons detained.
The Force is urging anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 456-3754 or the Soufriere Police Station at 456-3620. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling the Crime Hotline at 555 or through the RSLPF Crime Hotline app.
The shooting and its aftermath have deepened concern among residents about violence and security in the area ahead of a weekend expected to draw significant crowds to Soufriere for the Jazz event.
Unitedpac St. Lucia News will continue to monitor this story and report verified updates as they become available.
