Residents in northern community say ‘Big Yosh’ was ambushed by men in ski masks

Residents of Farm Road, St. Peter and surrounding areas are not surprised about the dreadful demise of a man, who, for months, was living among them after reportedly being released from prison.

The brutal shooting incident has nevertheless left a grieving mother childless after losing her second son to gunshot wounds and at least one relative lamenting the passing of a “good person” who was attempting to change his life for the better.

Canute Ward, 36, was the lone victim of a vicious gun attack that rocked the usually quiet northern community at around 9 p.m. on Monday.

Farm Road residents told Barbados TODAY that Ward, alias Big Yosh, was sitting on a sidewalk using his cellular phone when he was ambushed by two masked gunmen and riddled with bullets. The two men reportedly pursued the wounded victim through a nearby track leading to the young man’s temporary home, before he collapsed. There, they proceeded to “finish the job” with a fresh round of shots, leaving him to die.

On Tuesday morning, the sight of blood and the scent of disinfectant were still in front of the house where he was staying.

“We were in bed and we heard ‘bum! bum! bum! bum!’ About six shots and about ten minutes after that, ten police were outside. When the police checked, they said he was down by the banana tree dead. I don’t even know his name,” one resident recalled.

Another, who witnessed the incident unfolding added: “He was just sitting on the wall and the two guys passed in ski masks with the guns already drawn. They just started shooting like crazy… There were about seven or eight shots fired altogether, and then he ran down in there and collapsed.

“I wasn’t scared… I knew exactly where they were coming from and who they were targeting. I was looking for it to happen weeks ago, because it was rumoured that he was hiding from somebody,” she added.

Ward, originally of Dayrells Hill, Christ Church, was said to have moved into a house on a section of the Farm Road known as Rectory Hill, shortly after the COVID-19 lockdowns of April and May. Those who interacted with Big Yosh during his short stay in the area described him as a “cool” person but admitted that rumours of his “troubled history” were the source of much angst among them.

On August 11, 2017, Ward, who is known to police, had a brush with danger when he was shot and injured whilst at Fairchild Street, The City.

The 36-year-old’s most recent run-in with the law occurred in January 2019, when he was remanded for allegedly striking a young man in his head with a piece of wood in an apparent act of road rage that was captured on video and circulated widely on social media.

“He was a lawless man, but he cooled down. He had a history, but he wasn’t getting into any ‘vibes’ these days,” another Farm Road resident admitted.

On June 5, 2018, Canute’s younger brother, Dwayne Omar Lil Yosh Ward was shot while reportedly speeding toward police who were carrying out investigations at Maxwell Plains, Christ Church. The young man, who was 32 years old, died three days later.

When a Barbados TODAY team visited the house of their mother in the Christ Church community, no one was at home. A relative at a nearby house, however, explained that after returning from the scene at 5 a.m. [on Tuesday] the grieving mother, now childless, could not bear to remain at home, and instead ventured out to work.

“It is hard on her, but she’s trying to be strong,” the relative told Barbados TODAY.

She added that despite what others may say, the deceased was a “very respectful” young man, who would always speak to you. The last time he was seen in the area was approximately two weeks ago when he promised to bring a puppy for his uncle.

“Everybody will have their own opinions, but he was a good person. Yosh was nice.. and regardless of his past, he was trying to reintegrate back into society,” the relative added.

Barbados TODAY understands that up until Monday night, not even relatives knew where he was living.

His passing brings the total number of murders this year to 37 including 23 shootings and nine stabbings.
(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)