Colleagues of Wendy Bullard grieve after she was shot during an armed robbery yesterday. (Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune)

Published On:Saturday, August 22, 2009

Although police have not officially released the identity of the victim, family members told the Tribune yesterday she is 34-year-old Wendy Bullard.

She is the 53rd person to be murdered this year.

According to police, sales clerk Ms Bullard was shot in the face when two masked men held up the 21st Century Steel Welding Limited off Royal Palm Street, just several yards south of St George’s Anglican Church.

According to police press liaison officer Walter Evans, the victim was in the front area while a woman co-worker was in the back with a male customer when the incident occurred.

ASP Evans said: “The other female employee and the male customer were in the back area when they heard sounds of some movement in the front.

“They observed two men, one of whom had a handgun. Shortly after a gunshot was heard and the female employee who was in the front was injured to the face.”

ASP Evans said Ms Bullard was rushed to hospital where she died sometime later.

The two robbers escaped with a undetermined amount of cash. They are described as being slim, tall, dark men.

Last night shocked staff at 21st Century Steel Welding Limited paid tribune to Ms Bullard.

Owner Edward Smith said: “She was one of the nicest employees I ever had.

“She was a very good worker, working here for about four or five years.”

Mr Smith said he was not sure how much money was taken but said it was the first time his business has been robbed.

“It probably wasn’t much and it surely was not worth her life,” he said.

Mr Smith questioned the motive for the brutal murder, saying: “It could have just been an idiot who didn’t know the value of life.”

A cousin of Ms Bullard, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “She had a beautiful personality. She knew the Lord and she would always express love and kindness to everyone she met,”

 Police are asking for the public’s assistance in solving this latest murder.

Police say that this latest incident is the country’s 53rd homicide for the year.

Two weeks ago, 29-year-old mother of two TaGia Soles-Armony was shot and killed outside her grandmother’s home in Sea Breeze as she sat in her car breast-feeding her three-month-old son.

Mrs Soles-Armony had just returned home from St Kitts where she lived with her husband. Valentino Hanna Dorsette has been charged with her murder.