ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Jul 24, CMC – Police Commissioner Everton Jeffers is warning criminals that law enforcement will adopt an aggressive response as they beef up security operations ahead of Carnival celebrations and the murder of a businessman.
In addition, Jeffers is urging business owners to surrender their cash rather than confront armed robbers, warning that no amount of money is worth losing their lives after businessman Eleazer “Fresshy” Francis was shot and killed at his business place on Thursday.
Police said that Francis, 60, was shot and killed after two men exited a vehicle and entered the business place, where a confrontation reportedly occurred.
“No amount of money costs your life. If you find yourself in a situation like this and there’s no police around, just turn over the money. Your life is more valuable,” he said, adding “we would prefer to investigate a robbery than to investigate a murder.”
Jeffers said businesses should also limit the amount of cash kept on their premises by regularly clearing their cash registers.
He said that the enhanced security operations ahead of Carnival will include increased patrols and the deployment of additional law enforcement resources across the island.
“We are tired of you coming in and driving fear in the community. We’re going to turn it around and reverse that fear back to you. We’re coming for you,” Jeffers said, adding that the police have developed operational strategies aimed at making it more difficult for offenders to evade capture.
“If you decide that you’re going to come into the net, I want you to know when you come in, it’s not going to be very easy for you to get out,” Jeffers said, adding that the police would deploy every available intelligence capability and investigative tool to identify, apprehend and bring offenders before the courts.
Jeffers also addressed a social media video that allegedly threatened police officers, warning “you don’t go around checking police. You will be getting a visit from us, sir — not long from now.”
CMC/ah/ir/2026