St Lucia shooting sees Accrington man injured and friend killed

Peter Jackson, who is believed to be from Accrington, and Scot Donnie McKinnon were at a bar in Market Road, Soufriere, when the incident happened on Saturday afternoon, media in St Lucia have reported.

They were reportedly on the balcony of a bar in Market Road, Soufriere, on Saturday afternoon when masked gunmen opened fire at them.

Mr McKinnon, 48, is said to be originally from Scotland, and died as a result of his injuries, while Mr Jackson, 72, said to be from Accrington, was taken to hospital.

Police in Saint Lucia are treating the death as homicide and have launched an investigation.

Local media in St Lucia said Mr Jackson has lived on the island for more than 30 years and is a citizen of the country.

Mr McKinnon also has St Lucian citizenship after living there for several years and manages the Soufriere Estate.

Mr McKinnon previously worked as manager at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa in Aberdeen.

A hotel spokesperson said: “All of us at the Marcliffe Hotel are devastated to hear of the death of Donnie McKinnon in such terrible and violent circumstances.

“We are all part of the Marcliffe family – staff past and present – and to lose Donnie in such a way has deeply saddened us all.

“We will remember him as the lovely, unassuming and very popular guy we all knew; he will be sorely missed.

"We send our love and condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.”

He was described as a well-known community activist in St Lucia and former director of the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation.

"Everyone knew them. They were community people. This is sad," the St Lucia Times reports.

A Royal Saint Lucia Police Force spokesperson said: “The matter is under investigation.

"We are taking statements from individuals and we have officers on the ground right now.”

A Foreign Office spokesperson added: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died and a British man who has been injured in St Lucia.”