Carlsen Field man killed in Marabella

Jerome Stafford, alias "Brad," of Carlsen Field, died on the spot after he was shot four times in the head and chest by gunmen.

Investigators believe the killing was drug-related.

According to a police report, Stafford was walking along Ramnanan Street, Marabella, at 6.45 am, when a grey car sped towards him from the direction of the train line. The car stopped alongside Stafford and the occupants opened fire.

A preliminary police investigation revealed that Stafford was shot in the head and chest. As Stafford slumped to the ground, the report stated, the car sped off towards the Southern Main Road.

On hearing the gunshots, villagers immediately contacted the police.

Yesterday, Stafford’s sister, Denise Rawlins, told Newsday that her brother had relatives living on the train line. Rawlins said her brother once lived in Marabella and had stayed with her for a while.

"But I could not tolerate the bad company he kept, so I told him to leave," Rawlins said.

Rawlins said that Stafford, who was unemployed, moved to Carlsen Field where he lived with his common-law-wife Tisha Thorpe and their two young children.

An autopsy is to be performed on the body today at the Forensic Science Centre in St James. Snr Supt Nadir Mohammed and ASP Ruthven Paul are heading investigations.