Gale Dariah
A missing man who returned home yesterday evening (Saturday, Jan. 17) with an injured knee, two days after his bullet-riddled car and a bloody t-shirt were found in Belair, has said he narrowly escaped the trap of heavily-armed gunmen.
Gale Dariah, 30, also known as Zack and Fancy U, showed up at his house at about 7 p.m. on Saturday to the surprise of everyone, family members have told St. Lucia News Online (SNO). He was accompanied by a male friend.
“I saw him limping and it (his knee) was bandaged,” a relative told SNO.
According to relatives, Dariah explained that on Thursday night he was driving along the Sarrot public road, heading to Vanard, when he observed a car following him.
As a result, Dariah said he slowed his car and signalled to the trailing driver to overtake, but the pursuing car also slowed down, without overtaking him.
This aroused Dariah’s suspicion, prompting him to drive faster. Instead of heading to Vanard, Dariah reportedly changed his direction to the community of Belair, with hopes of evading the suspicious car.
Upon reaching Belair, Dariah reportedly said several shots were fired from the trailing car. One bullet hit the back windshield and about two in the gas tank cover area of the car. During the pursuit, Dariah was reportedly forced to stop the vehicle after his car’s CV joint broke due to the rough, pot-hole-filled road.
After stopping the vehicle, Dariah escaped in the nearby bushes and banana plantation as the gunmen continued firing – up to 17 shots – in his direction. He could not identify the shooter/s because it was dark.
Dariah reportedly told relatives he threw his shirt while he fled. The bloody t-shirt was found on a tree. He lost his cell phone and injured his knee during the escape.
Relatives said Dariah hid until he felt it was safe to return home. A source said a man had called a relative from an unknown number Saturday afternoon, informing the relative that he (Dariah) is fine. The source said the man hung up before the relative could say anything further.
“They were not sure if it was Gale so they didn’t make an alarm because anyone could call and say it’s Dariah,” the source added.
Dariah showed up at his home several hours later.
Several residents of Belair have told SNO of hearing multiple gunshots Thursday evening around 9 p.m. Dariah’s relatives got the call at about 10 p.m. that his vehicle was discovered, abandoned in Belair.
“The car was found parked on the left side of the road, facing Coolie Town,” a source told SNO. “The left door was open and he was nowhere to be found. They noticed the car had gunshot holes on the right side of the car.”
A relative told SNO that though Dariah is known to be troublesome, he is not a drug dealer.
Though Dariah is alive and well, family members are concerned about his safety, believing the perpetrators may still be looking for him.
Dariah’s vehicle is at the Marigot Station.
This news also comes a day after SNO received numerous reports that Dariah was discovered dead in Marc, Bexon on Saturday. However, Marigot Police Station, which is spearheading investigations, had told SNO that the rumours were unfounded. Dariah’s family members also confirmed receiving the rumours about the dead body, but are now relieved that it was false.