A deadly late-night shooting in the Antiguan community of Bathlodge has left one young woman dead and two other people injured, sparking questions over how an alleged suspect was able to carry out violence after being granted bail earlier on a weapons charge.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that one of the people now linked to Monday night’s fatal attack was already taken into law enforcement custody on February 5, 2026. At that time, the suspect was arrested and formally charged with illegal possession of both a firearm and ammunition, before a court granted him bail to be released ahead of trial.
According to official police accounts, the violent incident unfolded shortly before 11:30 p.m. Three masked attackers forced their way into a private residential property in the Bathlodge area and immediately opened fire on those inside. Twenty-year-old Saquania Anthony was struck in the attack and was pronounced dead early the following morning, Tuesday. The two other victims – a 13-year-old boy and a 24-year-old man – suffered non-fatal injuries and were rushed to a local hospital for urgent medical treatment.
In the days following the shooting, law enforcement has made progress in the investigation: two male suspects have been detained for questioning in connection with the case. As of the latest updates, however, no formal charges related to the shooting itself have been filed against any of the detained individuals. Investigators are still conducting a widespread manhunt for the third unidentified suspect who remains at large, with police appealing to members of the public to come forward with any information that could help lead to an arrest.