A grieving mother has recounted the harrowing moment she learned of her son’s death, after a shooting in Soufrière claimed the life of 40-year-old Kason Simon and left two others injured.
The incident occurred on Sunday night along a busy street, where a 16-year-old and a 23-year-old were also struck by gunfire and are now receiving treatment for injuries to their legs.
Police have indicated that the attack is linked to ongoing tensions between communities in Palmiste and Baron’s Drive.
Flora Simon, the victim’s mother, described her final interaction with her son just hours before the shooting.
“I left at eight o’clock. My son dropped me by my boyfriend and then my son told me, ‘Mommy, I’m going to Baron Drive’,” she said. “That’s the last moment.”
Concern grew when her calls went unanswered.
“I called my son. Nobody answered. So, I called him again, nobody answered,” she recalled. “When I called back, my daughter-in-law answered her phone and then I heard shouting. She was saying, ‘Kason, Kason, Kason’.”
Moments later came the devastating confirmation.
“Then she told me, ‘Paula, look, they killed Kason there’,” Simon said. “I dropped the phone on the table. Then I started to cry. I started to vomit and then I went by the scene. When I reached there, I saw my son on the floor.”
The killing has reignited concerns about persistent violence in the area, particularly as the shooting occurred in a public space where young people were present.
Parliamentary Representative for Soufrière Emma Hippolyte acknowledged the complexity of the situation, pointing to deeper social challenges.
“There are social issues, so there is no quick fix,” she said. “It is about engaging the two communities and working with the police.”
Hippolyte noted that steps are being taken to strengthen law enforcement presence and community outreach.
“We have got a commitment from the Commissioner of Police. We are establishing a marine base in Soufrière,” she explained. “The police are also working with us to engage our young people in various social programmes.”
Authorities continue investigations into the shooting, as residents grapple with the latest act of violence in what police describe as an ongoing conflict between rival communities.