Double, single murders rock Hanover - Beloved Elgin Town bus man and his wife slaughtered
Published:Thursday | May 19, 2016 | 12:00 AMAdrian Frater
Western Bureau:
The Elgin Town community in Hanover was a picture of grief yesterday morning as residents reacted to the shocking news that beloved transport operator 56-year-old Balford 'Fire Bird' Gordon and his wife, 45-year-old Aletta Brown-Gordon, had been brutally murdered.
"Jesus Christ! If they kill people like Fire and Aletta, who they won't kill?" a tearful resident asked.
"These are two of the most kind-hearted and loving people you will ever meet. I feel this one to my bones."
Based on preliminary investigations by the police, at approximately 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Gordon and a man who regularly washes his Coaster bus were outside cleaning up the vehicle when they were pounced on by a lone gunman, who forced both of them inside the house, where Brown-Gordon was.
Some time later, all three were led out of the house and forced to board the bus. It is still unclear by whom, but the bus was driven away from the yard. Some time later in the night, the vehicle was returned.
Found near beach
Yesterday morning, the bodies of the couple were found in a secluded section of the community, near to the beach. The persons who discovered the bodies reportedly told relatives that both had multiple gunshot wounds. The third person who had been taken away reportedly escaped and has been placed in protective custody by the police.
When The Gleaner arrived at the scene where the bodies had been found, detectives were seen leading a young woman away from the scene. She was believed to be Gordon's daughter, who they had taken to identify the bodies.
"Daddy nuh duh nobody nothing ... . If is him alone, trouble nuh mek," said the young lady as tears flowed down her face.
"Why would anyone want to kill daddy?"
Moved by tragedy
Lucea Mayor Wynter McIntosh, who visited the scene, was moved by the tragedy.
He said Brown-Gordon was a well-known People's National Party worker in the Elgin Town community.
"This is extremely sad ... a bad day for Hanover ... we also had another murder in the Pell River area last night," the mayor said.
"The crime situation was trending down at the start of the year, but these three murders in 24 hours is really something to worry about."
The other murder the mayor spoke of occurred shortly after 9 p.m. in the Pell River community.
According to reports, several persons were sitting outside a house when they were accosted by two gunmen, who opened fire on them.
One unidentified man was killed and two other persons injured.