Teenager, Three Others Granted Bail For Illegal Gun, Ammunition – St. Lucia Times

The content originally appeared on: St. Lucia Times News

A teenager and three other individuals received bail on illegal firearm and ammunition charges when they appeared before the First District Court.

The court granted Shequan Joseph, a nineteen-year-old Marigot resident,  twenty-five thousand dollars bail, cash, suitable surety, or land documents.

The other accused, Shervon John, 22, Dellian Gonzaque, 30, and Maximin Duncan, 32, received the same bail conditions.

The illegal firearm and ammunition charges against the four Marigot residents followed a Friday, May 10, 2024, incident.

According to the police, Special Services Unit officers conducting a traffic operation at La Croix Maingot stopped a motor vehicle occupied by four males.

A police release said an inspection of the motor vehicle and its occupants led to the discovery and seizure of one 9mm pistol equipped with one magazine and eleven rounds of ammunition.

The seizure occurred amid a violent crime spike that has so far resulted in 32 homicides this year, mostly involving the use of guns.

However, social media commentators have been strident in their criticism of bail for individuals charged with illegal guns and ammunition, declaring that it must be discouraging to the police while contributing to the problem by not sending a strong enough message to would-be lawbreakers.