Gunned down

20-YEAR-OLD FATHER KILLED IN SHOOTING INCIDENT IN ST PHILIP

By Anesta Henry

As police investigate Monday night’s shooting death of 20-year-old Nicobie Lavia of Cox Hill, St Philip, with one man now in custody, the victim’s family is trying to come to terms with the tragedy.

The young father was gun downed in the area of Nursery #2 Four Roads, St Philip, after 7 p.m. while a 26-year-old man also received gunshot injuries about his body and is now hospitalised.

As news of Lavia’s death spread, distraught relatives and friends gathered at the scene, some of them overcome with grief and crying.

An aunt of the deceased, who requested anonymity, described her nephew as a very loving boy who loved to laugh and smile. She recalled that the last time she saw him was last Wednesday when he was selling produce on the roadside.

“He stopped me and said, ‘Aunty, I really have to come and pay you a visit because you were so good to me’. And he started to bring some of the plantains and potatoes and things, and I told him I didn’t want any and he said ‘no, Aunty, you have to take down these with you’ and he just brought them and gave them to me.

“He has two kids and he called me to find out if I was okay and said that he has to bring the two kids to look for me. But he never got the chance that he would be able to bring the kids so that I could see them,” the aunt told members of the media at the scene as lawmen combed the area.

Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Rodney Inniss reported that officers at the District ‘C’ Police Station received a report around 7:30 p.m. that loud explosions were heard by residents at Nursery #2, Four Roads, St Philip.

Police who responded found Lavia’s lifeless body on the ground. The other shooting victim was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) by private car for medical treatment.

According to Inniss’ report, the deceased and the injured man were in a car in the area when they were confronted by a number of men. Gunfire erupted and after the smoke had cleared, the victims were discovered.

Residents said the incident was shocking and had left many of them shaken. Some of them shared that they were relaxing in their homes when their peace was interrupted by the sound of gunshots.

Following the incident, information started circulating on social media indicating that the “stepson” of a Government minister was connected to the matter.

However, the Barbados Police Service issued a statement saying that the frequency and proliferation of social media postings which feature information that is misleading and has no factual content had been drawn to lawmen’s attention.

The statement added that the posts were often false and suggested that the authors of such postings set out to sensationalise stories, issues, and events that mislead readers and create a feeling of uneasiness among the general public.

“One specific example is comments circulating relating to the shooting incident, which occurred at Four Roads, St Philip, on Monday, June 19,  2023.

“Social media postings suggest a set of circumstances, particularly alleging that certain persons are involved, which at this stage police have no evidence to corroborate,” the police said.

Lawmen are advising the public to get their information from credible and reliable sources, while reassuring Barbadians that police will continue to give updates as investigations into the recent deadly shooting progress.

Any person who has knowledge of the matter should contact Police Emergency 211, Crime Stoppers at 1800-TIPS (8477) or the nearest Police Station.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb