Double murder rocks quiet Westmoreland community

Grief descended on the quiet community of Kingswood in Westmoreland on Monday night when two persons were gunned down in cold blood.

The deceased have been identified as Chaldon Anthony Calder, 45, otherwise called 'Chino or Tony', and his common-law wife, 33-year-old Shellett 'Ms T' Reid.

Reports by the Savanna-la-Mar police are that shortly after 9 p.m., Calder drove to Reid's home and picked her up. On reaching his yard, he alighted from the vehicle and was in the process of opening the gate, when he was pounced upon by armed men and shot multiple times. The gunmen also shot Reid, who was seated inside the vehicle, multiple times, before escaping on a motorcycle. Residents alerted the police and upon arrival, both victims, who were found suffering from gunshot wounds, were rushed to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

When THE STAR visited the community yesterday, dozens of shocked relatives and close friends of both victims were seen gathered at the respective homes. The gunmen reportedly struck just few metres from a Jamaica Defence Force base.

"Right now am traumatised. From last night (Monday) I haven't sleep. Mi a tell yu, right now I am nervous. Mi just spoke to Tony mother and mi a tell yu, it's not good," said a relative of Calder. "It comes as a shock to all of us because this community is basically one of the crime-free communities in Westmoreland, and this is the first time wi really having a murder in the area, especially Tony, a man who mi grow up wid, and wi even wear each other clothes."

Reid's mother, Cherry Ann Watson, could barely find words to express grief over her daughter's murder. She told THE STAR that she had been admitted to the hospital for several days and that just few hours before the incident, her daughter had taken her home.

"When she and her brother come fi mi and carry mi home, dem up here a talk until she sey to mi sey, 'All right mummy mi a go cover you up in a the room," she said. "She get a sheet and cover mi up inna the hall, so mi come back now from in deh until she sey she a go down, and after she lef, next ting mi hear is that she dead."

Watson said that her daughter was a very kind, loving and caring person, who was loved by all her relatives and community members. This is the second double murder in Westmoreland in a week.

Last Monday, two goat farmers, Henry Jones, 65, and Brian Chambers, 44, both of Crowder district, also in Grange Hill were found chopped to death in Jacob Hill Mountain.