Father killed, son injured by masked gunman

Relatives and friends of Elcas James say that the murdered man would be greatly missed in his community.

James, 51, was shot dead while in his shop, located at Upper New Montrose/Walker Piece last Wednesday, December 31, sometime after 8 p.m., moments after his son, Shawphiel Moore, 23, was also shot{{more}} by the same gunman.

Moore survived the shooting, and up to press time was warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

According to one neighbour of the men, Moore was shot once in the neck as he exited the shop that his father operates next to their home, by the masked gunman, who was lying in wait for him at the side of the building.

As Moore stumbled backwards into the shop, James, who was sitting on a stool inside, rushed to his son’s assistance, asking “What happen?” The gunman then entered the building and fired multiple times at the men, hitting James about seven times and killing him on the spot, according to a relative.

When SEARCHLIGHT visited the area yesterday, bloodstains were still on the floor of the shop and on the ground outside; bullet holes were seen in the shop’s counter and glass from a shattered showcase littered the floor.

The neighbour, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that he had no idea why anyone would attack James and his son, since James, affectionately known as “Trucking,” was not a troublemaker.

“Trucking was a friendly person; he didn’t deserve to die so. I am feeling very sad,” the individual said.

James’s shooting death brought the national homicide toll to 38, and the second killing in the area for 2014.

The body of Rockies resident Enock George was found in a drain on December 6, not too far from where James was killed. George, 22, sustained a gunshot wound to the head between December 5 and 6. No arrest has been made in his murder, and police are carrying out investigations into both incidents.(JJ)