A deadly double shooting in the Creek Side neighborhood of Antigua and Barbuda has left two residents dead, prompting a public appeal for calm from the country’s top leader. Prime Minister Gaston Browne is urging members of the affected Rastafari community to avoid acts of retaliation after the Tuesday afternoon attack that claimed the lives of a 49-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman.
The prime minister shared that he first received news of the killings while traveling between Singapore and London, and immediately reached out to offer his condolences to Ras Selah, whose daughter was one of the two victims. In a message of solidarity directly to Selah, Browne acknowledged the unimaginable pain of losing a child, while urging the grieving community leader to stay strong and resist calls for retaliation.
The prime Minister also extended his support to the broader Niabinghi family, which is closely linked to the local Rastafari community.
Local law enforcement has confirmed the basic details of the incident, noting that both victims were permanent residents of the Creek Side area. Initial investigative reports outline that gunmen traveling in a silver Honda CR-V opened fire on the two victims outside a local shop, striking them multiple times. First responders rushed the pair to a nearby medical facility, but both were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
As detectives continue to work through the case, police are asking members of the public with any details related to the shooting to come forward to assist with the investigation.