Delacree youth killed after third gun attack

Looking back, the family of Romario Burrell believes that the 22-year-old construction worker may have been marked for death, given the fact that he was shot and injured twice last year in the Delacree Lane, Kingston 11, community where he lived.

He had been warned to be careful and to keep a low profile, given the attacks. He reportedly took the advice and seldom ventured beyond the confines of his home. However, on Monday night he was attacked and shot dead by a lone gunmen, just within walking distance from the house.

His mother, Novelette Forsythe, was among a group of women and children who sat along a section of the community with THE STAR visited yesterday. No tears were visible but the pain was evident for the family, which was mourning for the third time this year.

"On January 1st, police and soldier kill one of them and in July gunmen kill a next one a we family, and now mi son. Right at the spot where we at now is where one of them died. All now the bullet holes in the wall. We just a gwane hold it and leave everything to God and time," Forsythe muttered.

Reports from the Hunts Bay police are that about 8:35 p.m. residents heard explosions and alerted them. On their arrival, Burrell, otherwise called Bulbie, or Randy, was seen suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"Two times dem shot him (Burrell) last year, inna him back both times. Everybody warn him and tell him to be careful, but him is not a youth who walk up and down the place," Forsythe said.

She said that when she heard the explosions, it never crossed her mind that it was her son's life that was being snuffed out.

"Mi come outside and stand up a mi lane and somebody come tell mi say a Romario, and mi run go down deh. When I see him, he wasn't moving or anything," she recalled.

Forsythe described her son as a loving individual but said he was targeted by gangsters who wanted him to 'pick a side'.

"Him was a jovial and kind person. He was very helpful. From a longer time, man want him to pick side and dem tell him to stop go school and dem ting deh. Him couldn't go a school none at all, but as I said, I am leaving things to God," she said.