DENNERY, Saint Lucia – The Grand Ravine Dennery homicide has claimed the life of 41-year-old Destor Samuel, also known as “Dexter,” following a fatal shooting in the early hours of Friday, June 14, 2024.
According to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), the Richfond Police Station received a report of a shooting at Grand Ravine at about 2:30 a.m.
Detectives who responded to the scene found Samuel unresponsive and bearing signs of apparent gunshot wounds. A medical doctor subsequently confirmed his death at the scene.
Police formally identified the deceased as Samuel, a resident of Grand Ravine, Dennery, and said the matter had been referred to the Major Crimes Unit for investigation.
Unitedpac St Lucia News had earlier reported that Samuel was shot near his vehicle, a yellow Suzuki Swift.
Police Investigate Grand Ravine Dennery Homicide
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has not publicly disclosed a motive for Samuel’s killing or announced the arrest of any suspect in connection with the shooting.
Police are appealing to anyone with information that could assist investigators to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 456-3754.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by dialing 555, the Crime Hotline, or through the RSLPF Crime Hotline Application available on the Google Play Store.
The killing came during an especially violent period in Saint Lucia, with several fatal shootings recorded within days of each other.
On Saturday, June 8, two men were shot dead along Marchand Road in Castries. Police identified the victims as 20-year-old Thaddeus Denis, also known as “Coco Boy,” and Evitus Lynch Junior, also known as “Red Boy,” both of Black Mallet, Castries.
A male suspect was later apprehended during that investigation, and police reported recovering a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol along with a magazine containing 11 rounds of ammunition.
One day later, on Sunday, June 9, another double homicide occurred at Reduit Road in Rodney Bay, Gros Islet.
Police identified those victims as 23-year-old Sharma Martin and 25-year-old Walter Hofer, also known as “White Boy,” both of Grass Street, Castries. The two men were found inside a white Toyota saloon car with apparent gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Marchand and Rodney Bay shootings resulted in four people being killed in separate double homicides within two days.
Police have not indicated that those incidents are connected to Samuel’s killing.
Gun Violence Concerns Intensify
The string of shootings added to growing concern about the proliferation of illegal firearms in Saint Lucia.
Deputy Police Commissioner Ronald Phillip said following the earlier killings that police were concerned about the number of firearms being used in criminal offences and the wider availability of guns on the island.
He also pointed to the need for stronger measures at Saint Lucia’s borders to help curb gun violence, noting that the country does not manufacture firearms.
The wider crime situation also drew a strong response from a close relative of Samuel following his death.
Speaking anonymously to St. Lucia Times, the family member argued that Saint Lucia’s gun laws were too lenient and called for tougher penalties for people found in possession of illegal firearms or ammunition.
The relative called for mandatory imprisonment for illegal firearm possession and questioned whether bail should be granted in such cases.
The family member also expressed concern that access to guns can cause relatively minor disputes to escalate into deadly violence and urged people to develop better ways of resolving conflict.
Police Appeal for Information
In its official statement on the Grand Ravine Dennery homicide, the RSLPF said officers found Samuel unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds after responding to the early-morning shooting.
A medical doctor confirmed his death at the scene, and the investigation was subsequently referred to the Major Crimes Unit.
Anyone with information regarding the killing is being asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 456-3754.
Anonymous information can also be provided through the 555 Crime Hotline or the RSLPF Crime Hotline Application.
Samuel’s killing remains under investigation as police seek to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify those responsible.
