Gunmen kill much-loved Roehampton brothers
Published:Tuesday | March 7, 2023 | 1:02 AMHopeton Bucknor/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
A gloomy atmosphere blanketed Roehampton in St James on Monday as residents continued to mourn Friday night’s murders of two brothers, who were slain by rampaging gunmen.
The brothers, 51-year-old shopkeeper Dwight ‘Du Rammy’ Waite and 54-year-old Dean ‘Scatta’ Waite, were shot dead shortly after about 5:45 p.m. at a shop operated by the younger brother.
On Monday, Dwight’s common-law wife Shrudean Murray described her late spouse as a “people person”.
“He was always giving advice and social talk, and everyone gravitated to him in every way,” she said. “He was the proud father of five children and was very supportive of his family.”
According to Murray, her common-law husband was with her and three of his children earlier in the afternoon.
She said the deadly attack has been a shock to relatives as the brothers were hardworking men, who were not involved in any illegal activities.
“We all went out as a family and returned home somewhere in the region of 3:30 p.m.,” recalled Murray. “Dwight spent some time down by the yard with his children and went out to his shop at nightfall. Some time afterwards, we heard gunshots, and the next thing we knew is that he and his brother were shot and killed.”
Another family member, Althea Waite, who is in a relationship with a brother of the deceased men, said the slain men were well respected in the community.
“Dean is the eldest of five brothers and he was also a very quiet person,” said Waite. “Him also has couple children well. He was not a troublemaker, and most people in the community love him very much.
“Not to mention Dwight,” the woman continued. “Dwight was like a brother to me. Him friendly, run jokes, loving, kind, helpful and no one has anything bad to say about them.”
The Anchovy police, who responded to the shooting, said that when they went to the location both brothers were found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
They were taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where they were pronounced dead.
An elderly farmer told The Gleaner that Roehampton has been feeling the impact of crime in recent weeks, adding that recently, a member of the community was slain in downtown Montego Bay by gunmen.
“This don’t look good at all. ... It don’t look good at all,” the farmer said. “Right now, we don’t know if we fi feel relax or we fi feel ‘fraid.”