Police vehicle leads an ambulance believed to be transporting Kian Alexander, who was apprehanded in the Layou area on Sat. June 18, 2022. By. SCREENSHOT/EMO NEWS
Update: Kian Alexander is said to have succumbed to gunshot injuries, according to media reports from Dominica. It was unclear as to whether he was shot by police. This is a developing story.
Original Story: Kian Alexander, the man suspected of abducting 12-year-old Kernisha Thomas from her home in Warner, Dominica on Tues. June 7 at about 11:30 p.m. was captured by law enforcement in Dominica Saturday afternoon, according live media reports in the Layou area, where the suspect was arrested.
Alexander was apprehended by police in the Layou area and was most likely being transported to the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital, according to Dominica media outlet Emo News which was reporting live on the scene.
It was not clear whether Kernisha was found along with her alleged abductor, though this scenario appeared unlikely based on reporting on the ground.
Alexander, who was said to be visiting Kernisha’s uncle during the visit on June 7, reportedly began attacking the man, chopping him with a cutlass to his head and face. As he made his escape, Alexander is said to have grabbed the 12-year old and carried her into nearby bushes.
Her adoptive father was subsequently taken to the Dominica China Friendship hospital for treatment.
The current working theory is that immediately after her abduction, Kernisha was taken up into the hills, where she may still be.
The search for the little girl has taken on monumental proportions, with hundreds of volunteers showing up to bolster the efforts of law enforcement personnel and forestry officials.
As search efforts continue, the Dominican Government has been seeking assistance from regional counterparts to bolster the capacity of search parties on the ground.
