The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE country’s murder count for the year inched closer to 100 following a shooting in Adderley Street, Fox Hill Tuesday night that left a 38-year-old man dead.

Residents of the area identified the man as “Bungle,” adding that he was shot in his head. The Tribune understands the victim is Alton Davis. His death marked the 97th homicide for the year, according to The Tribune’s count. 

Police are seeking the whereabouts of Jamal Gibson, also known as “Eggy”, of Armbrister Street in Fox Hill, for assistance in this matter. They also believe Gibson can help their investigations into the murder of Ricardo Moss, who was killed at Gray’s Terrace on September 27.

Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle told the reporters at the scene that based on preliminary assessments, the latest victim, a resident of Kelly Lane, was riding his bicycle north on Adderley Street sometime around 9pm when two men emerged from the eastern side of the road.

“One of them produced a handgun and began discharging shots at him. They struck him in his upper body.”

“We do appeal to members of the community who may have some information with regards to this homicide to reach out to us,” he said.

Nearly 100 people from the nearby area gathered at the scene as news of the killing spread Tuesday night.

Residents expressed shock at what happened, with some questioning if it was a “retaliation killing” against an innocent man designed to “send a message.” 

One resident, who did not want to be identified, said he was exercising yards away from the incident when he heard what happened.

“I was outside exercising with my earphones on,” he said. “I heard shots that I thought were firecrackers since that’s what it sounded like. But then I saw my neighbour come running in the yard all out of breath. He told me someone got shot, so I walked out to see what happened and I saw the body lying in the road. While I was walking to the body it became obvious that he was dead because he wasn’t moving and his body was situated in an awkward position. A crowd started to build from there. I knew (the victim) from around the area.”

When asked about concerns over the level of crime in Fox Hill, Mr Rolle said he does not see the area as crime ridden.

“I don’t share the view that Fox Hill is a crime ridden area – Step Street neither,” he said. “This area has been pretty quiet as other areas, every now and then we have flare ups usually because of other things that are going on. What we seek to do is get to the bottom of an issue that sometimes results in death.”

Tuesday’s shooting marks the second time in less than a week that someone has been shot dead in Fox Hill.

On Saturday, Darren Woodside Davis, 37, of Abner Street, Fox Hill, was walking west on Abner Street when three men in a burgundy coloured van approached him from behind.

Two men got out of the vehicle and discharged several shots that struck him.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Davis was reportedly on his way to a friend’s funeral when he was killed.

Yesterday Mr Rolle could not say if the two recent Fox Hill killings are connected.