Three families are mourning the loss of loved ones after a weekend of deadly gun violence left three young men dead, pushing Saint Lucia’s homicide count to 40 for the year and renewing concerns over the escalating impact of violent crime on communities and businesses.
The violence began on Saturday evening when 24-year-old Joel Mercier was shot in Marchand. According to relatives, Mercier and his brother were returning home after a football game when gunmen opened fire. He was rushed to the Owen King EU Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries during the early hours of Sunday.
Speaking through tears, Mercier’s sister described the devastating moment she learned her brother had been shot.
“I was on the phone there talking to a friend of mine and they’re saying, ‘I heard shots by the road,’ and none of my brothers was home. Then I got a call. Somebody told me, ‘They shot my brother, they shot… look they shot Joel.’ I reached by the road. I saw Joel lying down there.”
Reflecting on the pain left behind by the killing, she added, “When you kill somebody, the person is dead already, they’re not feeling anything. It’s the family that is left to mourn, the family that is left in pieces. Our whole family and friends are just broken.”
Hours later, shortly before midnight on Saturday, another shooting erupted in Jacmel, Anse La Raye, leaving three people injured. Twenty-seven-year-old Jason ‘Scooby’ Francois later succumbed to his injuries. He leaves behind a seven-year-old daughter.
Francois’ sister recalled speaking with him only hours before his death, describing a day spent creating happy memories with family.
“He called me this Saturday morning, the same Saturday morning, to tell me he’ll be taking my children to the fun day with his daughter. And the night he spoke to me, he told me how the children enjoyed themselves and things like that. And that was it. Nothing like that.”
The Saint Lucia Fire Service confirmed its response to the Jacmel shooting.
“Officers of the Saint Lucia Fire Service responded at approximately 11.59 p.m. to a reported gunshot wound incident at Jacmel, Anse La Raye,” Fire Service Press Officer Sherise John said.
“On arrival at the scene, an adult male was found on the ground in a supine position covered with a white sheet. An assessment revealed that he was unresponsive with negative vitals. Multiple penetrating wounds were observed about the body. The scene was handed over to officers of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.”
The violence continued on Sunday night when another shooting occurred near the entrance to the Mindoo Phillip Park in Marchand. The victim, identified as 21-year-old Jordan Lansiquot, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
John said emergency responders received the report shortly after 10:00 p.m.
“Officers of the Saint Lucia Fire Service responded at approximately 10.05 p.m. to a reported gunshot wound incident at Marchand, Castries. On arrival at the scene, a male patient was found lying on the ground in a right lateral position.”
She explained that firefighters immediately began treatment before transporting the victim to hospital.
“An assessment revealed multiple penetrating wounds about various parts of the body. He was treated, then transported in critical condition to a medical facility for advanced medical care.”
Lansiquot later died from his injuries.
The three killings have heightened anxiety across several communities as residents grapple with the continuing surge in gun violence. Business owners have also voiced concern that the persistent shootings are discouraging customers from venturing out, particularly during the evenings, placing additional strain on already challenging economic conditions.