Shooting death shocks Belair community

Residents of Belair, St Philip are alarmed by the shocking act of gun violence that has disturbed their peaceful neighbourhood.

Twenty-four-year-old Ashantio Blackman was gunned down outside his home around 8:25 Friday night, while his girlfriend and four-year-old son were inside.

When  Barbados TODAY arrived at Blackman’s residence, his brother, who was one of the first to discover his body, declined to comment.

However, neighbour Karen Moore said residents were traumatized.

Still shaken by the incident, Moore shared that she was in her bedroom lying down when “about eight gunshots” echoed throughout the district. She remained in her house for approximately ten minutes before she ran outside and saw Blackman’s limp body lying across the street in a pool of blood.

According to Moore, Blackman was shot behind his home and succumbed to his injuries while running away.

“It was shocking because this is a very quiet and close-knit community. It was really shocking. Belair has never had anything like this before . . . I think the residents were traumatized because we are not accustomed to this,” Moore told Barbados TODAY.

Moore described Blackman as “ a good person”, and Trevor Gittens referred to him as “a quiet individual”.

Gittens, who is a friend of the family, was shaken by the circumstances surrounding Blackman’s death. He was in the backyard when the shooting occurred.

“I heard the shots and I was so frightened I went and park the bicycle between the house. I was scared, I didn’t look out,” Gittens said.

“I feel really bad about his death. He was a guy who didn’t use to go out a lot. He mostly carrying school his little boy and go for him on evenings,” he added.

Blackman’s death marks the country’s 26th homicide for 2019. (KK)