Double murder near police station in Hanover
Published:Thursday | August 5, 2021 | 12:37 AMHopeton Bucknor/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
A fast-food vendor and a customer became the latest victims of gun crime in Hanover on Tuesday as they were killed at a cook shop just metres away from the Kingsvale Police Station, near the Hanover-Westmoreland border.
The deceased men, who were among four persons who sustained gunshot wounds, have been identified as 37-year-old Dwayne ‘Harry’ Walford, a cook shop operator of Riverside Road in Kingsvale; and 34-year-old Danver ‘Goofy’ Vassell, of Haughton Court, Lucea.
The other gunshot victims, whose identities have been withheld by the police, are now nursing wounds in hospital. Their condition is not considered serious.
Reports from the police are that, about 9:15 p.m., four armed men travelling on motorcycles rode to the community and pulled up outside another small shop, which is operated by Walford, but discovered that it was closed. They reportedly opened fire on a group of men standing outside the establishment, injuring two of them.
The gunmen reportedly drove to another shop, which is also operated by Walford. They opened fire on Walford, his teenage son, and Vassell. The teenager escaped injury.
Residents were in shock on Wednesday as they tried to come to grips with the killing of Vassell and Walford, who delighted them with chicken, fish, and dumplings.
“All now mi caan believe seh Harry really dead. Mi just buy some fry chicken and two fry flour, and by the time mi start walk go up the road and a eat, a pure gunshot mi hear,” a resident told The Gleaner.
“Mi just lef the two man dem and di son inna the shop, and when mi listening, mi hear seh a him dem shoot up. Mi hear seh him (Harry) dead in a him little boy arms,” the man added.
He requested anonymity because of security concerns.
Jody-Kaye Johnson, a sister of the slain food vendor, was at a loss for words on Wednesday. Amid her tears, she said Walford was a good father to his son and daughter.
“Harry is a peacemaker. Him don’t trouble nobody, and we are taking it very hard at this time,” the sister said.
Raymond Stennett, Walford’s uncle, said his nephew was not a contentious person.
“Harry is my sister’s best son, and, since she learnt of his death, she has fainted on more than one occasion and had to be taken to hospital,” Stennett said.