Evesham in shock over shooting

Eugena Durrant believes that her son and brother were in the wrong place at the wrong time when they were both shot on Monday night in Evesham.

At about 7:30 p.m. on July 14, Durrant’s brother Benjamin “Braadee” Jackson, 56, was shot in the head and killed just outside his nephew’s shop. Durrant’s son, Dion “Dirts” Durrant, up to press time on Wednesday{{more}} was still warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital nursing a gunshot wound to his right hip.

Before she could utter even a single word while being interviewed on Wednesday, Durrant broke down in tears.

She stated that her brother had gone down the road to purchase a phone card, while her son was waiting on transportation to go to work.

“He (Jackson) was always by me and he is not troublesome and not someone who was always on the street…,” she said as she wiped the tears with both hands.

According to a police report, a vehicle stopped near to the shop and two people wearing face masks, exited the vehicle and began shooting, killing two and injuring two others.

The woman who declined to be photographed, recalled that she last spoke to her brother the day before he was murdered.

“I tell him to come in for his lunch and somebody was selling peanuts and I told him to buy me some and he did… he always come here. We always had a good relationship and he worked hard for his money,” she sobbed as her little grandson climbed into the chair in which she was sitting and hugged her.

She said since her brother’s death, people have been calling her to express their disbelief.

As for her son, Durrant said she is thankful that he is alive, but stated that she has not gone to see him at hospital and will not be going either.

“He was just waiting on a van to go to work. I just can’t watch my son like that. I am sick with my heart. I have an enlarged heart. I feel for him, because he is my son, but I feel it for my brother more, because he was killed,” a sobbing Durrant said.

Dwayne “Dutch” Robertson, 30, also of Evesham, was the other man who was shot and killed that night.

However, his family members declined to comment on his death.

Dominic Smart, 23, landscaper of Riley also sustained a gunshot injury that night and has since been treated and discharged from the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shootings and up to press time, no arrests had been made. (KW)