The shotgun found on Simeon Hope left shells at the scenes of at least three murders, including that of nine-year-old Christine Sookra last August.

Police on Thursday afternoon swooped on Hope who was hiding out in an old house on Cummings Street, Buxton North. He was riddled with bullets while sheltering in a hole under the floor of the house. Police found a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and eighty-four 12-gauge cartridges.

According to a release from the police, diligent investigations have so far revealed that spent cartridges found at the four scenes, three of which saw murders, have matched those fired from the shotgun found on Hope.

Among the scenes were Coldingen on August 27 when the weapon was used to mortally wound nine-year-old Christine Sookra. A large gang had attacked residents of that community late that night and while trying to gain entry into the home they fired off a number of shots from outside, one of which passed through a window and struck the girl in her head.

Then on the night of August 29 in Annandale police say the weapon was also used to wound two brothers, Trevor and Leonard Williams. Gunmen on that night killed Anthony Parsram of Sandreef, Annandale, but police have not yet linked the weapon to the crime.

On that same night 31-year-old Nigel Amsterdam was shot dead while attending to his shop in Buxton. Then on December 15 the weapon was again used to end the life of Candacy De Souza who was said to have been Hope's former lover.

The weapon was also used during the early morning of December 22 at Beterver-wagting, ECD during which time Gawayne Todd was shot dead and his friend Kwesi Price wounded. Todd and Price were on their way home on Slowe Street when one of three men called on him to stop. Once Todd heeded the man he was subdued and shot in his abdomen, while Price managed to run through a hail of bullets to safety. One man has since been charged with Todd's murder and the attempted murder of Price.

Police have also linked Hope with the murder of Malika Archer also of Buxton who was killed last May; Jerome Dolphin of Paradise killed on the same night as De Souza; Theon Jason Abrams who was killed by two gunmen last Thursday at Vigilance; contractor Troy Phillips who was dragged from a car and shot dead on Christmas morning; the murders of Odinga Brian and William Adams called 'Grego'; and the attempted murder of Randy Joseph, who was shot on the night his brother, Vivian was killed at Friendship.