A 19-year-old youth in Nevis became the Federation’s first murder victim on Wednesday.
Cleon Browne was gunned down in a hail of bullets as he walked along the road in Rawlins Village, Gingerland, Nevis close to midday.
Police said the Gingerland Police Station received a report of a shooting incident and upon arrival at the scene, officers found Browne along the roadside in Rawlins Village with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the body.
Browne was transported to the Alexandra Hospital in Charlestown and was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Police said that in processing the crime scene, several spent shells were taken into custody.
The Federation last year recorded 23 murders. There were 31 murders in 2016; 28 in 2015; 21 in 2014; 21 in 2013 and 18 in 2012.