Hanover residents blame poor lighting for shooting

Residents in sections of Cacoon district in west Hanover are now blaming the recent murder of a man in their community on poor street lighting.

During a visit to the community on Sunday morning, several residents told WESTERN STAR that maybe the murder of 27-year-old Delroy Williams of Westmoreland, and the shooting and wounding of another man earlier that morning, could have been avoided if they had proper lights.

"Mi boss, dung inna the lane yah well dark a night-time, and wi need some streetlight inna that community," one man who gave his name as Barry said. "The place dark in a way that even a night-time when mi a ride mi bike, although the light still tun on, the place still look dark. "

He said that to his knowledge, the area was in the Riverside division of the Hanover Municipal Corporation.

"A long time now wi inna darkness over yah, and wi naw get much help from him," he said. "Mi don't really know the youth who dead, but we know the other one who dem say get shot, and him is not really a bad boy. But dung weh dem shoot dem up, it darker than hell a night-time, and wi need more streetlight inna the place. "

It is reported that about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, Williams and the other man were entering a lane when they were pounced upon by armed men who shot them multiple times.

Both men were later transported to the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, where Williams was pronounced dead, and the other man treated and admitted.

Attempts to contact councillor Darren Barnes for a comment proved futile. His cell phone rang without answer.