The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

POLICE yesterday said a 22-year-old man was assisting them with their investigations into the shooting death of a father of seven who became the country’s 83rd murder for the year.

The victim, 50-year-old Owen Julius Hanna, was gunned down at Red Land Acres, off Soldier Road, at 9.30am on Wednesday.

The murder was the fourth in four days.

At the crime scene, Supt Paul Rolle, Officer in Charge of the Central Detective Unit, said police received a call around 9.45 am that shots were heard on Summer Street.

“When officers arrived on the scene they discovered the body of a man apparently suffering from gun shot wounds to his upper body. Preliminary reports showed that he was in an argument with another male that resulted in him being shot. He was lying outside an apartment building still under construction,” he said.

Mr Hanna’ s mother, Althea Hanna, fighting back tears moments after her son’s death, told The Tribune “the grace of God” will get her through life without her son.

“How do you think I feel? This is my pain. No one knows how I feel. I have to trust in God or I will fold up,” she said.

“They say he got shot. They say he got shot eight times in the back. He was very quiet. He was a loner, but if you make him mad he is just like me we don’t take foolishness, I am not one to bother with no one, but if you bother with me, I’ll catch the news. Someone was saying him and someone was having an argument, but I don’t believe that part because, guess what, he doesn’t argue. He will fight before he argue. Someone say a truck pull up with some people and one got out and they shot him.”

Supt Rolle said police have no motive at this time and are asking members of the public who may have information to contact them at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

Mr Hanna’s murder comes 24 hours after 61-year-old Ernest Hepburn was shot and killed at Rose Close, Inagua Way off Carmichael Road.

Police say Mr Hepburn was sitting outside a neighbour’s home playing dominoes when he was approached by two men.

The men robbed Mr Hepburn of his gold chain and shot him before escaping on foot into nearby bushes.

He died at the scene.

Supt Rolle said police are following significant leads in the matter and are hoping to soon make an arrest.