Man fatally
shot in town
PHILIPSBURG--A 52-year-old man was shot and killed in Philipsburg early Tuesday, authorities reported.
Aruba-born Errol St. Claire Richardson was found near Tamarindesteeg, off Back Street, lying dead in a pool of his blood, apparently from gunshot wounds “to his upper body,” according to police.
Richardson, who turned 52 two weeks ago, is the ninth homicide victim in Dutch St. Maarten this year. He was a resident of Back Street known for being “the guy who was always walking around with no shirt on.” Police do not have any suspects or motive for the shooting.
Police spokesman Chief Inspector Johan “Janchi” Leonard said town residents had alerted police to the sounds of gunfire about 3:50am Tuesday, directing them to the alley near New Pool Bar where Richardson’s body was found.
Unconfirmed reports suggest Richardson was shot on Front Street and walked as far as Back Street via the alley before collapsing and dying. Police could not confirm this, as the investigation was still fresh.
Windward Islands Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said an autopsy had been ordered to determine the cause of Richardson’s death.
Police request that any witnesses who might have seen or heard anything in this shooting to report their information to the officers. “Witnesses are advised to get immediately in contact with the police,” Leonard said in a statement. “Any form of assistance and/or cooperation extended to the police would be highly appreciated for our collective crime-fighting approach.”
“The last thing he said to me was ‘Mommy, I love you,’” said Errol’s mother Agnes Richardson on Tuesday afternoon outside the zinc-roofed home Richardson and his wife shared at Back Street 191. “It’s like he knew he was going to die.”
She wept openly in describing her son’s positive traits and his faults. She acknowledged that her son had been belligerent when indulging in liquor, but said his demeanour when he was sober had been humble, unassuming and pleasant.
“Errol will argue today with you and tomorrow he will look for you and apologise,” Richardson told reporters. “Errol was very friendly, and I don’t know why somebody had to kill him.”
Errol apparently had been playing cards the night of his killing, according to his mother.
She plans to either bury Richardson at the Methodist Cemetery as he wanted, or cremate him if lots in the cemetery are unavailable. She plans to leave the island soon after the farewell ceremony. “I don’t think I can stay here anymore without him,” she said.
Aside from the conviction of the shooter in Dimitri Trotman’s murder and the arrest of four young boys for stabbing to death another teen Glenford Brooks in August, homicide cases in St. Maarten this year remain largely unsolved.
Violent deaths in 2008 include shooting victims Stanley Orlando Gumbs, Akeem Lake, Derrick Smith, and Josner Fabre.
