The son of 64-year-old Charmaine Pearl Ramsay, who was killed in a double homicide, said he was heartbroken after seeing his mother’s body following a deadly shooting on Marchand Boulevard on Saturday night, May 9, just before Mother’s Day. The second victim, Sheston Duncan, died from his injuries a few hours later at the hospital.
The grieving son told reporters his mother was a devoted parent who “never fail” him throughout his life. His identity has been withheld for security reasons.
“Actually, that’s a major loss for our family,” he said. “At the end of the day, I never imagined my mother would lose her life in that kind of way. For the kind of person my mother was and the kind of way my mother was going for the ghetto, I never thought one day she would lose her life like that.”
He said losing his mother in such a violent way has been overwhelming, but he is trying to stay strong by holding on to the values she taught him.
“All what she teach me, I know for sure I just have to put it to play,” he said. “For my 28 years, my mother done a lot for me, a lot, a lot. In every situation, my mother was always there for me. Never fail me, never.”
He said Ramsay was honest, supportive, and deeply involved in every part of her children’s lives.
“If I doing bad, she would tell me I doing bad. If I doing good, she would tell me I doing good. But my mother never fail me at no time,” he said.
According to her son, Ramsay served as a police officer for 22 years. He said this role shaped much of his upbringing.
“My mother was a police officer for 22 years too. Growing up, that’s what she was,” he recalled.
When asked what he would miss most, the grieving son became emotional as he reflected on her constant presence in his life.
“I’ll miss her representation,” he said. “In every aspect of my life, my mother would always come and represent me no matter what it be. She would come and clean my house, wash for me, everything, my mother still doing for me at the age I am now.”
He also described the terrible moments leading up to finding his mother’s body.
He explained that he was at home when he heard gunshots in the community. At first, he did not realise his mother had been shot.
“When I came out of my house, I saw one individual on the ground,” he said. “I was passing to go by my mother’s home to check on her. A guy called me and tell me, ‘Look, your mother on the ground.’”
Still in disbelief, he walked to her home and eventually saw her lying motionless outside.
“When I go there, I see my mother lying there, lifeless already.”
He said the scene nearly caused him to lose emotional control.
“I feel like I was just losing my brains at the moment,” he admitted. “But I realised I stronger than that. I already gave my life to Christ, so I just consider I have to pray and let life take its course.”
Ramsay had six children, one of whom is deceased. Five children survive her.
The grieving son said he still cannot understand why anyone would want to take his mother’s life in such a brutal manner.
“I cannot even think, for one second, a reason somebody would want to take her life in that manner,” he said.
Meanwhile, a close friend of the deceased also expressed heartbreak over the killing, revealing that the two women had made plans to celebrate Mother’s Day together.
“I feel very bad about it because she and I spoke. We said we would go to church as mothers, and from there we would go dance the night,” the friend said. “And look at how the lady pass away.”
The woman took the chance to call for an end to the violence in the community, warning that innocent lives, especially children, are still at risk.
“I just do not like what’s going on because there are innocent children around here,” she said. “Innocent children can get hit when they come and do that violence thing.”
She added that fear has spread in the area after the shooting, and some parents are now too afraid to send their children to school.
“A mother called the principal and said she not sending her children to school because of what happened,” the woman stated.
The resident repeatedly appealed to the perpetrators to stop the violence.
“As a mother and elderly woman, I don’t like what is going on,” she said. “All those who are doing violent things, stop it, please. Have mercy on everybody else because all of us have family.”
Prime Minister and Parliamentary Representative for Castries East Philip J. Pierre also denounced the weekend killings in a statement posted to Facebook.
“As Parliamentary Representative, I am deeply saddened by the homicides that occurred over the weekend. I extend sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives,” the Prime Minister wrote.
He said the government has already engaged the leadership of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and assured citizens that authorities will pursue those responsible.
“These acts of violence are a matter of grave concern,” he stated. “The safety and security of our citizens remain a top priority of my Government.”
Sad beyond words
Charmaine Pearl Ramsay