The tight-knit academic community at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill campus is grappling with devastating grief following the tragic killing of 26-year-old Daquan Roberts, a standout final-year law student on track to graduate with honors. Roberts lost his life in a drive-by shooting Tuesday night on Spruce Street in Bridgetown, The City, just weeks before the campus community was set to begin final examinations. The senseless violence has sent profound shockwaves through the institution, leaving students, faculty, and staff reeling from an unexpected and devastating loss.
In an official statement released Thursday, university leadership confirmed that the entire campus is “deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic and senseless death.” In response to the tragedy, the institution has organized a campus vigil and public anti-gun violence walk to honor Roberts’ life and push back against the gun violence that cut his future short. Roberts enrolled in the UWI Cave Hill Faculty of Law for the 2023/2024 academic year, and quickly earned a reputation as a deeply committed, high-achieving student whose promise was evident to all who taught and worked alongside him. That bright, unfulfilled potential has made the loss even more devastating for every member of the law faculty community.
Cave Hill Principal Professor Clive Landis acknowledged that grief has spread across all sectors of the campus, with the timing of the killing amplifying the emotional strain on students already gearing up for high-stakes final exams. “At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the family of Daquan Roberts, his friends, classmates, and all who knew him, and who are understandably affected by this loss,” Landis said. To support impacted students, the university has activated flexible provisions in its examination regulations, allowing any student unable to sit their scheduled exams to postpone them. This accommodation comes as the campus navigates a period of collective mourning unfolding mid-examination season, with the heaviest sorrow concentrated within the Faculty of Law.
Interim Dean of the Faculty of Law Dr Antonius Hippolyte described a somber mood across the department, noting that Roberts was universally well-liked by peers and had left an enduring positive impression on all his lecturers. “Daquan, who was a bright and promising student, will be greatly missed. I wish to extend condolences to his friends and family as they navigate this difficult period,” Hippolyte said.
Lecturer Carla Ali offered a more personal portrait of Roberts, capturing the full range of his character beyond his strong academic transcript. “Humble in spirit and generous in nature, Daquan was always ready to lend a helping hand to those around him. He became an integral part of the Faculty’s community and a familiar presence within the Law Library,” Ali said. She highlighted that Roberts’ consistent strong grades over his academic career reflected his natural discipline and sharp intellectual ability, but emphasized that he will be remembered far more for his warmth and kindness. “his warm smile, kind heart, and engaging personality,” she said, adding “his life, though far too brief, leaves behind a legacy of diligence, humility, and compassion that will not be forgotten.”
Ajay Gordon, president of the UWI Cave Hill Guild of Students and a three-year classmate of Roberts, shared that the pair had planned to continue their legal studies together at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago starting the next academic year. Gordon saw Roberts on campus just hours before the shooting, and noted that this marks the second time he has lost a classmate to violent death in recent years. “I remember fondly how easily he broke down difficult concepts of law to me and how passionate he was in lectures and tutorials. He always sat at the front and was intrigued by jurisprudence,” Gordon recalled. “I always remember that he would never pass by without giving me a fist bump. He was a very spiritual person.”
Beyond academics, Roberts was deeply engaged in campus and community initiatives: he served as an ambassador and executive committee member for the UWISTAT Vice Chancellor’s Ambassador Corps, where he demonstrated consistent commitment to regional integration, volunteer service, and climate action, Gordon added.
UWI officials confirmed that free professional counselling support has been made available to all students and staff as the community processes this devastating loss. The memorial vigil and anti-gun violence walk are scheduled for April 25 at the campus Peace Pole, a landmark installed in 2022 through an initiative by the Rotary Club of Barbados South that bears the message: “May Peace Prevail on Earth”.
As of Thursday, law enforcement officials have not made any arrests in connection with Roberts’ killing, and detectives continue active investigations into the attack.