Crowne Plaza worker shot dead

Chika Farai, an employee of Crowne Plaza, left his workplace on Thursday night telling employees that he was going to his Agostini Street home in Gonzales.

Reports revealed that as Farai was on his way home at about 11.45 pm, he was approached by a gunman who shot him once in the chest. Farai ran north along Charlotte Street and collapsed.

A passer-by who was alerted to the gunshots contacted the police and a party of homicide officers went to the scene. The body was viewed by a district medical officer who ordered the removal of the body to the Forensic Science Centre.

Police revealed that Farai did not have a criminal record and was not a gang member. They did confirm, however, that a close relative of Farai was involved in gang-related activities.

The dead man’s grandmother, Roma Farai, told Newsday that she had been taking care of Farai since he was a baby. She said Farai gave her money when he got his salary and even purchased a cell phone for her.

The grieving woman pointed out that she was accustomed to calling her grandson to find out about his whereabouts, and he always teased her about it.

Although the agony of grief was etched on the grandmother’s face, she joked that her grandson owed her $100 at the time of his death. She called for swift justice in the killing.

Officers of the Homicide Bureau are investigating.

Farai is the 35th person to be murdered this year.