Peacemaker gunned down

A fragile sense of revival that residents said existed in Sunshine Corner on Balcombe Drive in Olympic Gardens, St Andrew, was shattered on Sunday following the murder of two men.

“Yo, about eight year or nine year this nuh gwaan bout ya. Look pon this, wi cook ya so every night and play games; a wi chill spot this,” said Mark*, pointing at a section of a yard that showed signs of merriment. But on Sunday night, right across the street from the spot, the life of 54-year-old Gregory Henderson, a man who residents say longed for peace in the area, was cut short. Up to press time, the police were attempting to positively identify the other victim. For Mark, even as he stared at the blood-stained asphalt yesterday, the reality of the incident remained difficult to believe.

“Is a stalwart in the community, everybody love him. Him help people and right here so a just cook and give away to people every Friday. We even do it Saturday,” he said. Just a few feet from where Henderson’s blood stained the asphalt, his mother stood with her hands clasped, rocking slowly as she stared at the spot where her son lost his life — the very place she had repeatedly warned him to avoid.