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Family of slain Ashburn A. Dawson offering reward for info

June 10th, 2017 | Tags: Ashburn A. Dawson Ashy murder shooting reward
Ashburn A. Dawson aka Ashy (left) was gunned down in Road Town on March 10, 2017. His family is now offering a reward for information that will help the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) identify a suspect in this investigation. Photo: VINO/File
The area where Mr Ashburn A. Dawson aka Ashy was gunned down on March 10, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
The area where Mr Ashburn A. Dawson aka Ashy was gunned down on March 10, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The family of Ashburn A. Dawson aka Ashy, who was gunned down in Road Town on March 10, 2017 is now offering a reward for information that will help the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) identify a suspect in this investigation.

Today, June 10, 2017 marks exactly three months since Dawson came under a hail of gunfire in the vicinity of the Sunday Morning Well and subsequently was pronounced dead at Peebles Hospital.

Pain & anguish overwhelming

Ashburn’s grieving mother, Leoniece Thomas-Francis, hopes the reward, the amount of which was not disclosed, will encourage someone to come forward and help to bring some closure to the tragedy.

“I would have never imagined that I would lose a child in such a tragic manner. The pain and anguish is overwhelming at times and my heart just cries out for relief. Persons around may not understand but God does. However, just as painful as the loss is the fact that a person living in the community I live in, is walking around, sharing my space, free to do this again to someone else’s son. It keeps me awake at night. It should bother all of us.

“To date the murder remains unsolved and that is why the family is offering a reward, for any information that may be linked to the arrest and prosecution of the murderer,” Thomas-Francis said in a press release.

Hardworking & decent

Ashburn’s aunt, Lena Thomas, remembers Dawson as a humble, kind and loving young man who was hardworking and decent. He was 31 years old and the father of one son.

“We loved Ashburn dearly - he brought so much happiness to all our lives and, while we know that we can never bring him back, we feel that through closure of this investigation and bringing his murderer to justice, we may be able to move past all the deep hurt, pain and frustration that we continue to grapple with daily. The pain we all continue to feel is indescribable -- a pain that no mother, no family member should ever have to endure.

“We would not wish Ashburn's death to be added to the statistics of unsolved murders. It is with this in mind that the family has pooled resources and made the decision to offer a financial reward for information leading to the arrest and ultimate prosecution of the perpetrator in this crime. It is our hope and sincere prayer that persons will be encouraged to come forward and provide any information which will assist the Police in their investigation. Please help us - please support our family in our endeavor to get justice for Ashburn,” she said.

Information needed

According to Dawson’s family, information that would be helpful to the Major Investigation Team now is where Ashburn was prior to 9:30 PM on March 10, 2017 when he was shot. Was someone following him that evening or was the gunman waiting for him at that location near the Sunday Morning Well on the Friday night of March 10?

“Detectives don’t know exactly where Ashburn had been that evening, who he was with and who he had been speaking to prior to him being shot. Did he have an argument with someone? Was there some other motive for wanting him dead?”

Persons with this information can contact the Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Joe Goff or one of his team directly at 368-9410. All information will be treated sensitively and with the highest level of confidentiality.

22 Responses to “Family of slain Ashburn A. Dawson offering reward for info”

  • Local (10/06/2017, 09:12) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    the streets do not want to talk!
  • Waysinski (10/06/2017, 09:37) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
    This is testing our law and order in this community. Solve this one and regain the public trust.
  • wize up (10/06/2017, 10:27) Like (11) Dislike (18) Reply
    In most parts of this work it is the laws enforcement agencies that put up the rewrds:the commission of the police in the British Virgin Islands have a duty to the people of this country who did in fact lost lives or are victims of criminal behaviour: the commissioner of police must offer reward for the arrest of these subject: the commissioner was complaining ; he now have almost 2 millions of the tax payers money and thus noting new from the commission of popes in relation to cfrime dight: had the commission been black we would have gotten 1.8 million and most of us will be asking for him because of poor performance ( we quick to jump all over dr smith) but some have no balls to confront Mike Matthews about his crime plan now that he have a fit filled with up you tax( because the queen don't give BVI one Dine )


    • Jacperlance (10/06/2017, 10:53) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply
      @wize-up, you chatting bear piss. What is wrong with the family of victims offering rewards. The was I see it, this is our community, and we all have a duty to protect it, why does any reward has to be offered for people in this territory to give information about crime. By the way stop playing the race card here, it have nothing to do with the colour of one skin. Please read before you post and you can also take the time to spell check.
    • @ Wise Up (10/06/2017, 11:44) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      Check who all is on the national security committee. See where the real fault should be placed. You half way there but we have to hold all accountable.
    • @wiz up (10/06/2017, 16:14) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
      Shut up you fool! Families put up rewards all the time all over the damn world!
  • On vacation (10/06/2017, 11:27) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    Where are the uk officers
    • John Doo (10/06/2017, 18:53) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      @on vacation, why asked for U.K. Officers? They are not that important as many may feel. They do not know this place and its people more than our local officers, they are no God send. What we really need here are courageous men and women who will stand up and declare, "enough is enough," and come forward with the information they have, then all these crimes will be solve by our own local officers. Those U.K. Officers come here tear after year, paid big salary and when they left the murders still unsolved. And by the way, they cannot get anything done without the input of the local officers.
  • Sigh (10/06/2017, 12:25) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    RIP Ashy. We were not close but I miss seeing you around. I really hope that your murder and many others are solved. We are too small a country for so many unsolved murders. I cannot imagine what the families of murder victims must be going through but I pray that you all find strength in knowing that one day justice will be served.
  • reward (10/06/2017, 12:28) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    The killers does work with/for the police. They ain't gon solve ish.
    • @ reward (10/06/2017, 12:56) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
      serious allegations boss
      • reward (10/06/2017, 13:21) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
        facts, tola corrupt from the highest level of government to the police even down to the ports, why u think they sending in uk officers and auditors and officials feel bummy about it. better wake up and smell the coffee. but truly aint my business its yall own. sips tea with kermit.
  • wize up (10/06/2017, 16:57) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    @@wize up: your issue is not with me; as a matter of the issue is not even the offering up a reward: you need to calm down because I have lost family members and friend from the early 90s and recently: if my family who lost love ones do ask the police what is going we get no update from the police...let level that there for now:
  • Outlaw (10/06/2017, 18:58) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    Wize up you are a lying bastard. I know that the police always keep families informed especially in cases of murder. They even provide a liaison officer for the family, so stop spreading that kind of misinformation
  • K (10/06/2017, 21:35) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    I think this Aunty needs to ask her son..
  • reward (10/06/2017, 22:41) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Police better do their job nobody's goin to rat
  • cay (11/06/2017, 01:43) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    So it seems like the white police chief from the uk has failed
  • well ask for one of the bullet (11/06/2017, 12:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    as the order of the day is to go to the sangomas or what we call witchdoctors or better still fast and pray and ask the Great Master above to help He may be slow but very sure
  • Binocs (11/06/2017, 23:01) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I still can't understand why there is so much hate in the world the person who did this will be brought to justice his blood cry out from the ground
  • Well Well (12/06/2017, 15:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I believe the Police knows who did it as I think they questioned somebody that we all suspect. Our immigration system however sucks. If someone is questioned by the police and told not to leave Town, unless he takes a speed boat, he should not be able to leave without being stopped at the port. Hope this isn't the case and they don't have evidence and the perp is long gone. Even if only suspicion and you held somebody, Police should alert the ports to look out for somebody if you told them not to leave Town.


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