The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

A 70-year-old grandmother died Sunday after she was shot multiple times last month, taking the country’s murder count to 57 for the year.

According to police reports, Belpheam Lightbourne died in hospital around 1pm – three weeks after she was shot by men who broke into her home during the night.

On Friday, May 21, Ms Lightbourne was at her residence off Nassau Street with family members when three men, one of them armed with a shotgun, entered and robbed them of electronic items.

Police say as the men fled the home, a gunshot was fired which resulted in the grandmother being shot multiple times.

Hours later police arrested four people in connection with the shooting and recovered an assortment of electronic items, believed to be the property of Ms Lightbourne.

Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade confirmed yesterday that police have classified her death as a homicide and are working diligently on the matter.

”If the person is injured and dies within one year and a day of the injury being caused, it is recorded as a murder. I offered condolences to her family and will be following up to ensure they get a brief from us today and as to what we have to do to bring resolve. But I think we did some good work on that file already and I will be happy at a future point to pass on more information.”

Shortly after the shooting, Ms Lightbourne’s grandson, 19-year-old Glenroy Brown, told The Tribune that he and other family members were struggling to understand why she was shot.

“It was a robbery and they carry a lot out of this house. We still wondering why.

“When we wake up in the middle of the night, they was over us with the guns – well, at least when I wake up it look like they did done move everything out the house so they was getting ready to leave. So when they was coming out, they fired a shot.”

The thieves ultimately escaped with two laptop computers, a microwave oven, clothes, shoes, a television and a fan, said Glenroy.

Invesigations continue.