MARIGOT--An 18-year-old young man was fatally shot in Concordia by an assailant about 8:30am Saturday, in another act of senseless violence that continues to plague the youth. The incident took place close to the Post Office's new sorting centre.
A passing doctor saw the victim lying on the ground clinging to life and immediately called the Gendarmerie and the ambulance. However, the young man passed away on the way to the hospital.
The victim was Franck Petion of Rue de Hollande, St. James. He was born in French St. Martin to Haitian parents.
Prosecutor Jacques Louvier confirmed that the shooting had occurred. However, it will not be clear whether the victim was killed by one or more bullets until an autopsy has been performed.
Louvier did not speculate about the reason for the shooting, except to say that the deceased was already known to the Gendarmerie and the justice system as a result of his involvement in previous offences. He said this case was now being referred to the prosecutor in Guadeloupe.
Sources have indicated that the shooting was most likely gang-related.
Reports that the shooting occurred on the premises of the Post Office were unfounded. Workers had heard a commotion outside their place of work and had seen that the road was blocked by Gendarmes and the ambulance.
"It was difficult to see what was going on, but we did see a scooter in the bushes, although I didn't hear any shots. The paramedics were working on somebody on the ground. The next thing we heard was that he had died on the way to the hospital," said one of Post Office workers.
An investigation into the murder has been opened.
