Saint Lucia has recorded four homicides thus far for 2026 and investigators say they are steadily investigating each matter.
According to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, 2025 saw a decrease in the number of recorded homicides at 70, the lowest in five years.
The latest homicide was recorded on Saturday, January 17th. It is reported that a Micoud man identified as Jamari Joseph was shot by an assailant. Police are investigating the matter, and further details are scarce.
Homicide number three occurred on Thursday January 15th when a Soufriere man was stabbed by an assailant at Jeremie Street, Castries. The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Leeval Albert of Soufrière.
That morning, law enforcement officers had convened a press conference, wherein Assistant Commissioner of Police, Luke Defreitas, confirmed the passing of the victim.
“Just to inform the press and the public that we’ve recorded the third homicide of 2026, a stabbing incident in the city,” Defreitas stated. “A guy, it happened a few moments ago, was transported to a medical facility, and he has passed away.”
According to ACP Defreitas, emergency services encountered the injured man shortly after the incident, though investigators are still working to establish the precise location where the stabbing took place.
“So, what I can say is that the ambulance services engaged the deceased somewhere by Dax, Jeremie Street, but the exact location of the incident itself is what we’re still trying to sort,” he explained. “So, we’ve recorded homicide number three for 2026.”
Homicide number two was recorded on January 12th as a decomposing body was discovered at Beanefield, Vieux Fort, on a strip of land commonly known as the ‘’Kakabef’’.
The deceased was identified as Nobert Crick, a 66-year-old of Docamel, La Resource and a coal maker.
“On Monday, 12th January 2026, about 9:00 a.m., the Vieux Fort Police Station received the call of the discovery of a decomposing body at Beanefield, Vieux Fort, within the vicinity of the old landing strip, commonly referred to as the Kakabef,” Victorin explained.
He stated that officers were immediately dispatched to the scene, where they discovered the lifeless body of a male. “Police investigators were dispatched to the scene to discover the lifeless body of a male at the scene,” he said.
The island’s first homicide for 2026 was recorded on January 3rd at Darling Road, Castries, stemming from a physical altercation between two young men, where one was stabbed and succumbed to injuries.
The deceased has been identified as 16-year-old Omar Joseph of Marisule, Gros Islet. Another juvenile has since been arrested in connection with the murder.
Providing an update on the case on January 14th, WSPC Zane Romulus explained:
“A 16-year-old juvenile has been formally charged in connection with the fatal stabbing incident, which claimed the life of 16-year-old Omar Joseph of Marisule, Gros Islet. Joseph succumbed to his injuries at 12.28 a.m. on January 3rd, 2026.”
She noted that the suspect was arrested on the same day as the incident.
“The 16-year-old suspect was arrested on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, and on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026, he was formally charged with the offence of wounding,” Romulus said.
As investigations continued and Joseph later died from his injuries, the charge was escalated.
“On Thursday, January 8th, 2026, he was further charged indictably with the offence of murder,” Romulus confirmed.
The juvenile appeared before the court shortly after. “On Friday, January 9th, 2026, the juvenile appeared virtually before a magistrate of the First District Court, where he was remanded in custody at the Bordelais Correctional Facility Juvenile Centre until January 15th, 2026, pending a bail review,” she added.
In all cases, investigators vowed to do their best in bringing the perpetrators to justice.