And the violence over the weekend continued with another murder, this time in Gracie Rock Village.
26-year-old Denver Montero was with a group of people swimming in the river near the Hammock Bridge when 12 persons - men and minors - descended on them. They were held up, but before the robbers left, shots were fired, and Montero was killed. Meanwhile, another man, Ryan Kerr, was injured and is currently being hospitalized.
But the police response was quick, and all 12 suspects are currently in custody. Police press officer, ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, told us more.
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Initial investigations revealed that a large number of people were in that area swimming in the river when they were approached by about 12 male persons that were in a van who proceeded to rob them of their personal items."
"And, um, while one of these men was brandishing a firearm, they robbed these persons of their personal items, like I mentioned, and then assaulted Denver Montero and Ryan Skeen. These men then loaded in a gray 2006 Dodge Caravan license plate known to the police, and they left the area. Hattieville Police approached these persons between mile 14 and 15 on the George Price Highway and conducted a search on them where many of these persons' personal items that were stolen were recovered."
"These persons were taken into custody. Their names will be released later on today, and we will update you as to whether charges have been filed against them, but we know that they have been identified as the culprits that were at Gracie Rock earlier on Sunday. Body of Denver Montero was pronounced dead at the KHMH and now awaits a postmortem."
Reporter:
"Can you confirm if several of the persons detained are minors?"
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Well, their ages will be released. I know that minors are involved, but we also have adults detained."
Cherisse Halsall:
"So motive for the, the murder ultimately was robbery?"
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Well, I wouldn't want to say that was the motive, murder was the end result, but, um, we did recover the items that were taken. First to establish a definitive motive would be after investigators put it, um, put their evidence together because like I said, there, these were, I mean, 12 persons in a van and we had a large crowd swimming and all these persons were assaulted in some form or the other. So it'll take a little while, but hopefully by the end of today, we can give you an established motive."
5 of the suspects are minors, with the youngest being 12-years-old. Two of the men are 18, while most of the others are in their early 20's, except for the oldest man, who is 35-years-old.
|
