In approximately 12 hours from 11 p.m. on Monday night, police have been left to investigate a bloody trio of incidents that left one man dead, another with multiple gunshots about his body and yet another with an almost severed hand and deep leg lacerations.
GRIM REMINDERS: The crutches used by the deceased at the time of his death, the teacup he was using and the bucket on which he was sitting.
A painful chorus of wailing and weeping echoed through Barbarees Gardens, St Michael after a 44-year-old man, the father of 13 children, met a gruesome death at his home while reportedly drinking his morning tea.
Moments before, the quiet neighborhood was rattled by loud and rapid gunfire which residents later found out was the result of an execution-style killing unfolding.
According to reports, a young woman was upstairs, “cleaning out the bedroom” and as she ventured outside, was confronted with a sickening sight. Her uncle, Daryl Rusty Harris lay unresponsive on the ground, riddled with bullets.
His murder came just 12 hours after a St Philip community was left shocked by gunfire on Monday night. At the end of it, 33-year-old Brian Anthony Orlando Hunte, of Harmony Lodge, St Philip was left nursing injuries to his abdomen, left hand and back. He was reportedly attending a promotion in St Martins when he received multiple shots.
Just two hours after the fatal shooting at Barbarees Gardens, drama unfolded at Glendairy Road, near Bank Hall, St Michael. That’s where a man’s arm was partially severed and he received deep lacerations on his leg over what residents believe was a domestic disturbance. Police are now on the hunt for a St George man for questioning in the incident that left Alban Mottley, 52, of Newbury, St George with the serious cuts.
Earlier today police turned their attention to the Barbarees Gardens where Harris’ empty teacup, the hat he was wearing, the bucket on which he sat and the crutches, which assisted with his mobility were all scattered on the ground outside his home.
Moments later, under police escort, the seriously wounded man was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) as the community held its breath awaiting word on his condition.
“We understand that there [at the QEH], he succumbed to his injuries,” revealed senior investigating officer, Acting Assistant Superintendent Victor Forde.
Silence turned to mayhem as the sad news of Harris’ death began to spread.
“Heaven help us all,” sang one woman as she began to sob softly. This was followed by the sound of uncontrollable crying by both women and men, some of whom identified themselves as Harris’ children.
His third eldest daughter, Shani Small was among them and accompanied Hinds’ sister who told Barbados TODAY that her brother had been recovering from gunshot wounds received last December 11th at Hinkson Gap, New Orleans. During that same incident, 48-year-old Adrian Todd of Rock Gap New Orleans was also shot. Nevertheless, his sister said the news of the most recent attack came as a shock.
Shani Small, one of Daryl Harris’ 13 children was inconsolable after receiving news of his death.
“I am lost, I am really lost. I was on my way here and somebody called me and told me that he got shot nine times,” said his sister, Kathy Harris while revealing that it was her daughter who was “upstairs cleaning his room and getting tea for him.”
“I know he [Harris] was shot last month in the Orleans in both of his feet. He was on crutches and had the bandages and stuff like that,” she said, while adding, “but I don’t know what would lead up to this.”
While Kathy admitted that, “everybody has their differences, people get themselves into trouble and things do happen,” she insisted that her brother who would do odd jobs including carpentry and masonry “was a loving person who would give anybody anything”.
“I don’t know how I feel. I don’t have any feeling right now,” she added.
Sources told Barbados TODAY that Harris was among scores of former Chapman Lane and Lakes Folly residents, relocated to Barbarees Hill for relief from the pungent odors from the Bridgetown Sewage Plant.
“They brought us down here from Chapman Lane and Emmerton, but I never thought down here would get so,” said one distressed resident.
As the day grew older, scores of mourning relatives gathered at the home of Daryl’s mother. They informed Barbados TODAY that she was in no position to give a statement.
His gruesome murder is 2019’s third and the third in less than a week. Last Tuesday, well-known tattoo artist, 24-year-old Shaquille Gibson-Toppin became the year’s first victim after being shot outside his Retreat Terrace, Black Rock home. Days later on January 11th, Ronald Rudder was fatally shot while sitting outside his home at Ridgeway, Pinelands, St Michael.
“We are concerned about the level of gun violence,” said acting Superintendent Forde.
While pleading with members of the public to take all precautions for their own safety, Forde also gave the assurance that the police would be doing all they could to ensure that the public is safe and can go about their duties without “undue fear”.
Police are continuing investigations into the St. Philip shooting incident which occurred about 11:10pm at Bongles Hide-a-way Bar located at St. Martins and are also asking for anyone with information on these matters to contact Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1800-8477(TIPS) or any police station.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb
