Guyanese mom critical after losing daughter in deadly BVI shooting

An 11-year-old girl was shot dead and her Guyanese mother is in a critical condition following a shooting in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on November 22, 2017. Another man, identified as 41-year-old Franklin Penn of Parham Town, East End was also shot dead.

BVI Platinum News reported that the girl has been identified as Trinity Azaria Moses, a resident of Huntums Ghut, while her mother was identified as Ramona Moses, a Guyanese national.

According to the report on BVI Platinum News, the three were occupants of a vehicle on the West End Public Road in the area of the graveyard around 9:30 pm, when at least two scooter riders rode up to the vehicle. Shots were then fired into the vehicle and the scooter riders fled.

The victims were taken to Peebles Hospital. The male and 11-year-old minor were pronounced dead on arrival. According to the news report, the double murder has angered many within the community, forcing some to call for an extension of the curfew, which currently runs from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am.

Other persons have also called for the police to patrol more communities across Tortola, while some have called for the government to invite the UK police help to maintain law and order.

According to BVI Platinum News, Commissioner of Police, Michael Matthews has made a special appeal for information from the public into this shooting incident.

“While no murder is welcomed news, I believe that there are many in our community who are equally shocked, saddened and disgusted by this cowardly act, and even more so that an innocent child was among the victims. More so, that there are people who live among us who would carry out such a contemptible act,” he was quoted as saying in the article.