Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines – BOOM FM is mourning the loss of one of its beloved DJs after a violent shooting late Friday night near the station on Paul’s Avenue. Gasroy Fergusson, known to listeners as DJ Swagga, was shot and killed while socializing with others outside the radio station around midnight.
According to police and reliable sources, Fergusson was struck multiple times in the head and died at the scene. Another man, whose identity has not yet been verified by iWitness News, was injured in the attack and transported to a hospital with gunshot wounds to his arm and back.
Eyewitness accounts from BOOM FM staff suggest that the attack was sudden and unprovoked. One employee, who had been inside the station at the time, initially heard what they believed were loud bangs on the surrounding galvanized structures. After checking the station’s security cameras, they observed unusual movements at a nearby shop and residents peering over their patios.
Upon exiting the station, the employee saw the aftermath of the shooting. People in the street were helping an injured man to get medical attention, while others informed the employee that DJ Swagga was lying critically wounded in the roadway. When the employee reached him, Fergusson’s body was shaking in his final moments, suffering gunshot injuries to both his head and legs.
According to eyewitnesses, a black car had arrived in the area moments before the shooting. As people tried to flee, Fergusson was hit in the leg, fell, and was then shot multiple times in the head by the assailant, who then fled the scene. The BOOM FM employee, shaken by the attack, stated that Fergusson was not known to be involved in any illicit activities and suggested he may have been “collateral damage.”
“It could have been me leaving the station. I cudda pick up a stray bullet,” the employee said, visibly distressed. “I don’t even know what to think right now.”
This latest act of violence has reignited concerns about security in Paul’s Avenue, an area with a history of shootings and gang-related incidents. Dwight “Bing” Joseph, manager of BOOM FM, has long advocated for increased police presence in the community. Speaking to iWitness News in the early hours of Saturday, Joseph expressed shock and grief over the loss of one of his most valued employees.
“I am tired of this. I am constantly on the radio begging for security in here,” Joseph said. He highlighted that the area surrounding the station includes major businesses such as the National Lotteries Authority and Metrocint General Insurance, as well as residential homes where residents often feel unsafe after dark.
Joseph fondly remembered Fergusson, noting that he had been with BOOM FM since the COVID-19 pandemic and had previously worked at Hot 97 FM. “Swagga is one of my favourite employees. If I don’t come to work a day, Swagga would call me,” he said.
During the pandemic, Paul’s Avenue and other communities in Kingstown benefited from a 24-hour police presence amid ongoing gang conflicts. However, those security details were eventually scaled back to intermittent patrols. Following the shooting death of Jawansa Sanga Fraser on Sept. 13, 2024, a senior national security official reportedly told BOOM FM management that there was no longer cause for concern after the so-called “head of the snake” had been neutralized.
The shooting has left the station and the local community in mourning, reigniting fears about public safety and raising questions about the level of protection available to residents and business employees in the area.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, and police have appealed to anyone with information about the suspects or the black vehicle involved to come forward.
If you want, I can also create a more human-interest version focusing on DJ Swagga’s life, career, and the emotional impact on the community, which often resonates more with readers. Do you want me to do that?
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