The Tribune

By SANCHESKA

DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was shot multiple times in the head and killed early yesterday morning as he pulled up to a residence in Pinewood Gardens.

The killing happened shortly after 8.30am and brought the country’s murder count to 78 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, Superintendent Ashton Greenslade said the Police Control Room received reports that gunshots were heard through Thatch Palm Street.

“When officers arrived, they met the lifeless body of a dark male, lying on the right side of the road,” Supt Greenslade said.

“Information received is that sometime this morning, a silver Skyline came here at Thatch Palm and also a white van was parked on the corer. Once the Skyline parked, occupants of the white van came out, all armed with firearms and approached the vehicle. The driver attempted to flee but he was shot multiple times by the occupants of the vehicle. He collapsed on the side of the road and died.”

Supt Greenslade said officers do not know the identity of the victim or the motive behind the shooting.

A resident of Pinewood Gardens for more than 40 years, who wished to remain anonymous, said the neighbourhood is normally “peaceful and quiet” and now because of this incident she no longer feels safe.

She said she had just finished walking around the block when she heard shots.

“I saw the birds flying and I said to my sister, ‘come look,’ because I saw the birds flying and I saw people running this way and I said, ‘I am not going outside because that’s gunshots and if they see you they will shoot you because they feel as though you can identify them’,” the woman said.

“So I didn’t go outside right away. When I come out I saw the young man on the ground and I said ‘Oh Lord’ because through this street we are not like that. We look out for each other, we take care of each other. I feel unsafe now so I am going to keep my door locked and if I hear anything going on I am not going to come outside because you don’t know what these people have on them.

“Although the light was off through here, I can still stand in the road until 1am but now because of this I won’t do it anymore. After 43 years, nothing like this has ever happened on this street.”

Another resident said she heard what sounded like “firecrackers” and ran outside to see the victim on the ground with multiple shots to the head.

“Well, it sounded like a bunch of firecrackers this morning when I realised people were shooting through the corner. I went outside and I saw a gentleman lying on the ground,” she said.

“I ran over and there was bullet wounds to his head. This is a community where people look out for each other but this man does not live in the area. The vehicle was still running so it’s like someone was following him and he probably just turned through the corner to see if someone was following him.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

Investigations continue.