The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was shot and killed outside a home in Yellow Elder Gardens on Saturday night, pushing the year’s homicide count to 65, according to The Tribune’s records.

The incident was one of four shooting incidents that occurred in just 36 hours over the holiday weekend, however the other three attacks were not fatal.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean told The Tribune yesterday that up to press time, police had no leads into Saturday night’s homicide.

When pressed as to whether or not the shooting may have been an act of retaliation, the senior policeman said: “We’re still early on into our investigation and trying to determine what happened.”

While the victim has not been officially identified, The Tribune understands that he is 32-year-old Michael McKenzie.

According to police reports, the victim was sitting in the front section of a friend’s home at Graham Drive and Doyle Street when a man armed with a handgun entered and shot him multiple times before fleeing.

The victim died of his injuries at the scene of the incident while the gunman remains at large.

Friends and loved ones took to McKenzie’s Facebook page yesterday to express their shock and anguish over his death.

“He had a great sense of humour, making him one of the class clowns, but yet so wise, we would often say he is an old man. He always carried himself well and was so very ambitious, a go-getter,” said one user, who identified herself as a former classmate of the victim.

“I can’t believe you are gone. I just saw you the other day. This can’t be true. I pray God comforts your family,” another user wrote.

This incident occurred less than 10 days after a man was shot and killed in the same Yellow Elder community.

That victim was walking in a park off Graham Drive, Yellow Elder Gardens, when a man armed with a handgun approached and shot him multiple times before fleeing.

The injured man attempted to run, but he fell on his back where he died of his injuries.

Police are also searching for suspects in connection with three separate shooting incidents on Friday’s Labour Day, which left three men in hospital.

Police are appealing to anyone with information on these shootings to contact them at 919 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS (8477) (New Providence) or 1-242-300-8476 (Family Islands).