Residents of Barre St Joseph, Marigot are struggling to come to terms with a fatal shooting that claimed the life of 24-year-old Mitchel Jean on the night of May 29, 2026. This tragedy has left family members devastated and community members questioning the growing violence affecting the nation.
Jean’s death has pushed Saint Lucia’s homicide count to 36 for the year.
Speaking anonymously to the press, residents described a frantic scene as community members attempted to assist the wounded man following the shooting.
“When we got to the scene, he was on the ground, he was responsive, he was begging everybody to take him to the doctor, take him to the hospital, sorry,” one resident recalled.
The resident said those gathered around Jean watched helplessly as he succumbed to his injuries before medical assistance arrived.
“We stayed there, he bled out until, before the ambulance could have gotten there, he bled out. I mean, if the ambulance came on time then he would have a 50% chance of surviving. But yes, he took his last breath right there in front of everybody.”
Another resident said the sound of gunfire shattered what is generally regarded as a quiet community.
“I was inside my house, I just had a bullet, so I don’t know anything that I’ve seen the nights. I just had a bullet.”
For Jean’s mother, Christina Jean, the loss remains almost impossible to accept.
“Well, my son was a loving boy to me,” she said. “He was close to me. Every problem he had, he would share with me, but he never told me he was in problem with anybody. Nobody at all.”
She described her son as a caring and supportive presence in her life, someone who regularly offered words of encouragement.
“Every day, I would get a kiss and a hug from him, and he would tell me, Mommy, be strong. Be strong, Mommy.”
Overcome with grief, Jean said she continues to struggle with the reality of her son’s death.
“But I don’t believe my son gone. He’s still alive. He’s not dead,” she said.
Reflecting on the difficult days ahead, she added, “But when I see that day finish, and I do see my son, I understand that, yes, he’s gone for true.”
The fatal shooting has shocked residents of Barre St Joseph, many of whom described the community as one of the island’s more peaceful areas. The incident has also heightened concerns about violent crime as Saint Lucia continues to grapple with a rising homicide rate.
Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding Jean’s death are ongoing.