Family mourns St Lucy shooting victim, calls for end to gun violence

The family of Romario Archer, the 31-year-old man killed in Sunday night’s shooting at Fryers Well, Checker Hall, St Lucy, is struggling to come to terms with his sudden death.

His father, Sherwood Archer, told Barbados TODAY on Monday that his son was a hardworking young man who shared a close bond with his family and described described Romario as sweet and loving.

The grieving father said they were still in shock, noting that his son was full of life.

Archer was among patrons attending a karaoke lime at a bar around 10:50 p.m. when a dark-coloured motorcar drove past and its occupants opened fire, injuring several people.

Nine injured persons were transported to medical facilities for urgent treatment. Archer later died while receiving treatment at the Sandy Crest Medical Centre.

Sherwood insisted that his son was not involved in any criminal activity, stressing that he had simply been attending an event.

He also used the opportunity to appeal to young people across the island to put down their guns and find peaceful ways to resolve conflict.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for St Lucy, Peter Phillips, who visited the family’s Broomefield residence, called for decisive action to address the recent spate of killings.

He said the country needed to take a firm stance against what he described as lawless acts and renewed his call for the reinstatement of capital punishment.

Also present at the home was Ian Griffith, the Democratic Labour Party’s former candidate for St Lucy, who offered support to the grieving family.

Archer, who lived in Pie Corner, St Lucy with his girlfriend, is being remembered by loved ones as a vibrant young man whose life was cut short.