Daylight shooting stuns rural community

The close-knit St John community of Welch was thrown into a state of shock today when 30-year-old Roger Moore from that same area was executed by gunmen while working at a shop.

What has also angered residents is that two young children, along with several other adults witnessed the shooting which occurred around 12:30 p.m.

Police Public Republic Relations Officer (ag) Inspector Rodney Inniss said the Royal Barbados Police Force has launched an investigation into the unnatural death and has visited homes in the area as they probe the matter.

However, some residents, who requested anonymity told Barbados TODAY that those who witnessed the incident looked on in dismay and disbelief, and are still struggling to come to grips with the fact that it happened, particularly in broad daylight when several householders were at home.

“As far as I know, some men turn up, went down by the shop, step out and tell the men don’t move, pull out guns on them and put a couple shots in he, walk over he, and put one in his neck, get back in the car and left.

“He [the deceased] and some fellas were doing some work on the shop; doing some carpentry because he got some skills, when it happened,” one resident said.

“The community is shaken because we don’t get this sort of thing happening at all. The most that would happen in this community is somebody would stump their toe, people are pretty shaken. As far as I know, he [the deceased] recently came out of prison. He was targeted. Too many people were at that shop and they just hit he one. About six or seven people were there, including children who are five and seven years old,” the resident added.

Another resident lamented that the deceased was “not a bad fella” and did not deserve to die in the manner he did.

“When I heard the gunshots I ran out and the fella run back and get in the car and them fly and went long. He could have stand in prison. Whoever sign bail for he to come out. . .this is only two weeks that he come, cause he did went up and in two weeks’ time he home,” the resident said.

The distraught resident further stated: “It shocked us because we were not looking for nothing so. When we heard the three shots we were like ‘that is bullets?” and everybody run out. The woman [owner of the shop] got grandchildren and they were inside the gallery.”

Member of Parliament for the area, Charles Griffith, who visited the scene following the incident, said it was unfortunate that he had to visit the community as a result of a notorious act. He noted that it is unfortunate that these shootings are taking place regularly in the rural parts of the island.

“It is never a good thing for a close-knit community such as Welch, to deal with a situation that is impacting the whole community. You can see the residents are shocked that this thing could have happened in the middle of the day when everyone is actually at home. You have youngsters at home, families at home. This is a very serious situation and I know that as part of the Government, we are doing every single thing possible to grapple with this gun violence that is rampant at all levels of society,” Griffith said.

Inspector of the Southern Division of the Royal Barbados Police Force, Carolyn Blackman-Alleyne is asking anyone who has information related to the crime to contact the District “C” Police Station at 416-8200, or Operations Control at 211 with the details.
(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)