Business owners shot dead in morning attack

Vendors and shoppers were sent scampering yesterday as a gunman sprayed bullets into the bodies of two men along Princess Street in downtown Kingston.

The incident caused market vendors and wholesale owners who operate in the vicinity to discontinue their operations for the day. According to police reports, about 11 a.m., 41-year-old Everett 'Killie Killie' Scott and 55-year-old Roland 'Grabba Man' Hylton were in their business place when they were in a dispute with a man. Shortly after the dispute was quelled, another man entered the business place. Everett and Hylton allegedly accosted the individual with cutting weapons and the individual opened fire, hitting both men. The gunman escaped.

While one vendor was saddened by Hylton's death, the incident hampered his business.

"I come out from early this morning because although some Monday slow, today started good. I sold some goods, but I still have a lot more things here to sell," he said. "The police won't be done here until late evening, and to relocate somewhere else now is hassling. I just called my driver to take me home. It could be the best choice with what happened, because for the rest of the day, people will have [to be on their guard]."

As she hurriedly packed away her market produce, another vendor said she, too, was calling it a day.

"It nuh make any sense, because di crime scene nah clear up fi now, and people can't pass the tape. All of this just shake up everybody, suh mi just a go in and come back tomorrow [today], depending on how the day look," she said.

A woman who resides within walking distance from where the incident occurred, said she is tired of the constant flare-up of violence.

"Mi tired of dis, west Kingston gone to the dogs. Every day is something else; and it look like when dem done wid west, nobody nah go leave down here. One ting mi know is that mi want it stop, so anyone interfere with mi and mi know a who, a straight a station mi a go," she said.