Family in shock over Ronald Rudder’s death

Family members of 25-year-old Ronald Rudder of 1^st Avenue, Gills Gap, Eagle Hall, St Michael are in shock over his sudden passing.

Around 5:15 p.m. on Friday, the father-to-be was sitting alone at a house located at Ridgeway, The Pine, St Michael when several gunshots were heard.

Rudder’s body was discovered lying on the road after the shooting.

When a Barbados TODAY team visited Rudder’s father, Jeffrey Codrington this morning, he was struggling to compose himself. Codrington was surrounded by family, friends and neighbours who stopped by his Deacon’s, St Michael home to offer their condolences.

Rudder, Codrington’s second child, would have been a new father in March.

Codrington recalled that his last conversation with the St Leonard’s School past student happened hours before his death. He said it was filled with their usual friendly banter, and he didn’t expect it would have been the last call he had with his son.

“It is very hurtful. . . he was a very cool fellow,” said the father of three while being supported by his daughter Khadeesha Rudder.

Codrington noted that his son was around bad company but he never sought out trouble with others. In May 2016, police issued a wanted notice for Rudder in connection with “serious criminal matters”.

“There is nothing bad I can say about him, he never get in anybody way nothing so. It just unfortunate it happen,” said Codrington.

“It real hard, we didn’t expect that yesterday but that is the news we got,” he said.

Rudder’s sister Kadeesha said she was shaken by the news of his murder. She was home when her mother broke the news to her.

“I was in shock because just so my brother just gone. You would never hear him involved in no trouble,” she said.

When Barbados TODAY contacted Rudder’s mother, Sofia Rudder, she was too distraught to give a comment. However, she described her son as “a good person” who was loving and kind.

Rudder’s tragic death marks the island’s second homicide for the year, leaving his family in shock over his sudden passing. (KK)