From left: France Theodore, Merkia Mondesir, and Augustin Deterville. All three Vieux Fort men sustained injuries in the shooting incident in Castries on Tuesday afternoon. Mondesir and another man John Octave (not in photo) were charged for firearm-related offences.
(SNO) – Two young men have been charged for the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition in connection with Tuesday’s shooting in Castries which left one man dead and four others, including a child, injured, police said.
Charged are Merkia Mondesir, 24, and John Octave, 20, both of Westhall Group, Vieux Fort, according to police.
Both have been charged for possession of firearm, but Mondesir has been slapped with an additional charge of possession of ammunition.
The injured France Theodore being taken away on a stretcher by emergency officials, with a police officer alongside them
Mondesir, who was injured during the shooting, was reportedly caught with the weapon and ammunition around the crime scene, while Octave, who was not injured, had allegedly ran away but was caught with the firearm.
It was not immediately clear if both men have appeared in court, or if the firearms were used during Tuesday’s incident.
The other victims of the shooting are France Theodore, 24, and his cousin Augustin Deterville, who are both from Vieux Fort; along with a nine-year-old girl whose identity can’t be disclosed because she is a minor.
Police have identified the lone deceased as Elton Fontinelle of Morn Du Don, Castries, who reportedly sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
THE DAY OF THE SHOOTING
The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. on Peynier and Louis Streets during peak traffic hours. With the exception of the child and the dead man, all the other people involved are from Vieux Fort addresses.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied that the incident stemmed from a gang feud between men from Castries and Vieux Fort, and that the men from the south arrived in the city to shed blood.
An audio recording of a male has been circulating on social media since the shooting, suggesting that the incident is as a result of a feud between men from Vieux Fort and Castries.
“Yea boy, couple man from Vieux Fort and thing I hear that come and roll on Castries man, but Castries man was waiting for them already, so exchange of (gun) fire and couple Vieux Fort man get shot, all kinda ting,” the voice recording states.
However, the source said the voice note is a “lie”.
Shooting victims including the masked man (right).
The source went on to say that a group of men, at least three of them – Theodore, Mondesir and Deterville – came to Castries to meet and have drinks with friends when they were attacked by a masked gunman. They were reportedly heading back to their car when the attack occurred, according to the source.
Theodore sustained a gunshot wound to the back, Deterville got wounds to his abdomen and both legs, and Mondesir was wounded in the leg, sources said.
All three were admitted at hospital in stable condition, according to police. However, Mondesir was discharged and immediately arrested. He was subsequently charged with the possession of a firearm and ammunition.
It is not immediately clear if Octave, who was also charged with a firearm offence, was a part of the Vieux Fort group.
DEAD: Elton. * Facebook photo
THE ASSASSIN
The source claimed that the injured men do not know the gunman. The source added that the trio have no problems with anyone at the CDC. The guys at the CDC are considered “friends”, the source noted.
But who is the gunman/the shooter?
Rumours are that the deceased, Fontinelle, was the masked trigger-man, who was taken out by a law enforcement officer. However, police officials have not confirmed or denied this. In fact, a police press release about the incident did not indicate whether or not Fontinelle was the gunman.
The man is motionless on the ground.
The release stated: “Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Elton Fontinelle of Morne Du Don, Castries. On Tuesday, May 29, 2018, about 4:00 p.m. officers attached to the Criminal Investigations Department received a report of a shooting on Louis Street, Castries.
“Elton Fontinelle was conveyed to the Victoria Hospital, after allegedly sustaining multiple gunshot wounds about the body, where he was pronounced dead by a medical practitioner.”
However, the source is convinced that Fontinelle was the shooter.
About 12 homicides have been recorded so far this year.
(17)
(3)The post BREAKING NEWS: Two charged in connection with Tuesday’s deadly shooting appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.