Crescent cries for slain citizens
Published:Tuesday | July 5, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter
The grief was evident yesterday in Crescent district, St Catherine, as residents fought to come to grips with the brutal killing of two members of the community and another two who were left to nurse gunshot wounds in an early morning shooting spree.
But what was more evident was the level of fear in the community as residents claimed the once-peaceful community continues to be plagued by heartless criminals.
The residents identified the dead persons as Hernel Graham, who was in his late 40s, and his 37-year-old wife, Icylin.
They were shot before their house was set ablaze.
Their charred remains hidden in the rubble were enough reason for the residents, including close friends and family members, to mourn.
"About 1:30 me hear a barrage of shots and when me reach on the scene me tell the police them say the people them burn up in the house 'cause them not leaving them house go anywhere, and when we look a the body them, that we see," one resident said.
"It is too much for us to bear because them people deh a nice people in the community. Them no make trouble," he added.
Another distraught resident, who explained that she was still in shock, said the two would be sadly missed by all in the St Catherine community.
"The lady tell everybody 'Morning', and she was so willing, you could ask her to do anything," said Icylin's church sister.
"Even at church, it is a big loss. I can't believe somebody could be so insensitive to kill them," she argued.
But the residents said they continued to live in fear due to a recent increase in violence in the area.
"Violence is a problem lately and we are tired of it. All we want to do now is to move out of the community," said another resident.
Could be robbery
However, some persons are not ruling robbery out as the motive for the incident.
"Them rob two cars and take out a radio and other things, and them rob one house and take out DVDs, and so I think it is linked to robbery," one man said.
The gruesome incident has left family members hopeless.
"Mi aunt used to be a good person in the family. She used to care for her mother and also her sister, who is sick. Now she gone, mi no know how the family a go manage," Munchie Gilzene said.
The Gleaner understands that one of the two persons who were injured was released while the other was hospitalised.
Up to late yesterday afternoon, the Constabulary Communication Network said it was unable to provide any information as the police were still investigating.