Damian 'Nashie' Isaac

Less than 72 hours after the Federation recorded its fourth homicide for 2010, another young man was gunned down on the morning of Friday, Feb. 12. Investigations revealed that Damian "Nashie" Isaac, who resided in Lime Kiln, had been shot to death in an alley joining Infirmary Road and Cardin Avenue.

Three young men have been taken into police custody on suspicion of murder Isaac's shooting. Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Vaughan Henderson confirmed that the men had been apprehended on Tuesday but up until press time said they had not been charged with the crime. The names of the individuals were not released to the public as Henderson pointed out they were "assisting with the investigation".

Isaac, originally from Old Road but who resided in Lime Kiln Housing Project, was gunned down gangland style last Friday at about 7:15 a.m. as residents of Russell Village made their way to work and school. Armed assailants reportedly approached Isaac and his friend Lingettie Hendrickson, 20, of St. Johnston Village while they were on the junction of Cayon Street and Infirmary Road.

The gunmen reportedly opened fire and Hendrickson was shot in his right foot while Isaac sped off on a bicycle. It was said that the gunmen chased after Isaac and he was eventually shot to death in an alley joining Infirmary Road and Cardin Avenue. Sources at the scene indicated to The Observer that Isaac received several shots about his body including his back. It was also said he had received at least one shot to the back of his head.

Side road chatter alluded to three men carrying guns who were seen walking away from the alley and jumping into a waiting white rental car which then sped from the scene. Isaac, 30, was the father of a toddler. His lifeless body was identified that morning by his father who was almost inconsolable. The victim's sister and mother also turned up to the scene, wailing at the loss of their loved one.

Isaac's death was the fifth homicide recorded in the Federation so far for 2010 and the second for the island of St. Kitts. With 5 homicides in 43 days, the Federation has a homicide rate of one every 8 days.

Crime fighting and reduction tops the Labour administration's priority list for the new term and Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas said inroads in that regard were already being realized.

"We have already reduced non-gang crime and will continue pushing this downward while maintaining a sustained push against gang related and white-collar crime as well."

He informed on Wednesday that collaboration with regional and international law enforcement agencies would continue.

"I must emphasize that the St. Kitts and Nevis collaborative approach to crime fighting continues. It was with the Honourable Premier Parry of Nevis that the national security teams of both islands and I met in Nevis on January 12th. In addition, the collaborative approach with the international community also continues with members of our defense force having recently met with their US national security counterparts in Barbados to agree upon the strategic areas of emphasis and training which our forces will be pursuing over the next year."