The father of 22-year-old murder victim Jamari Prince, Baswell Welcome, is deeply heartbroken by his son’s death. Prince was tragically shot and killed on Saturday evening at the home of his girlfriend, who was also shot during the incident and is currently nursing injuries. In an interview with ANN, Welcome described his son as “a quiet and hardworking young man who avoided conflict and was not involved in any illegal activities.” Overcome with grief, Welcome shared that he has “not eaten or slept since the incident” and is still in shock, unable to comprehend why anyone would want to kill his son.
Welcome, who shared a close relationship and even a birthday with his son on September 8th, last spoke to him on August 16th. He tearfully expressed, “I would miss my son,” noting that the only memories he now has are photographs, which he plans to frame and keep. He expressed a strong desire for “a swift arrest and prosecution of the person responsible” for his son’s death.
Similarly, Jamari’s grandmother, Noami Patterson, who celebrated her birthday just one day after Prince’s murder, is devastated. She recalled the last time she saw her grandson on Wednesday, when he visited her, playfully tapped her, and they spent time talking and laughing. “He came to my room where I was lying down and tapped on my bottom and said, ‘Granny, look me.’ We talked and laughed for a while before he left.” Like her son, she cannot understand why someone would take her grandson’s life and is hopeful that the police will apprehend the perpetrator soon. She described this tragedy as “the worst birthday gift anyone could receive.”
The shooting occurred in the close-knit community of Kingstown Park, where houses are no more than 4 yards apart. A resident in the area reported hearing “gunshots and screaming,” adding to the shock and sorrow that has gripped the community.
The family, originally from Layou, now resides in the Lowmans Low Income Housing Area. Jamari Prince’s death marks the 29th homicide in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for 2024. His untimely death has left his family, friends,searching for answers and justice, as they mourn the loss of a young life taken too soon.