A 19-year-old father of twin girls was killed a few houses away from his Nicholasville, Barataria, home yesterday, in what police and residents believe was a case of mistaken identity.
According to police reports, around 8.45 am Jerron Douglas was shovelling sharp sand at a construction site when three armed, masked men pulled up in a vehicle and shot him several times.
Douglas collapsed and died with the shovel on his chest. His killers then got back into the car and escaped.
Residents said yesterday there is an ongoing war between gangs from Malick, Barataria and Sunshine Avenue, two areas neighbouring Nicholasville, and they believe the intended target was a man who was seen in the area recently. Residents said Douglas’ hairstyle closely resembled that of the man they believe the killers were targetting.
Smith, Douglas’ girlfriend, said they were to be married next year.
“The last thing he told me was he love me and that was it. He was always a family person and a people person too. I want to see justice and I want some kind of help for my two children, because the help we had just gone,” she said.
“If I didn’t have two children and you had ask me what was the next step, I would have told you down in the grave for me, but I have the children so I have to be there for them.
His goal was just to work to get money to build a place, so we can have a life.”
Resident Derick Cooper said Douglas had raised his infant twin daughters by himself after their mother Natisha Smith was arrested shortly after their birth. Cooper said Douglas was a man who placed family above all else, and turned down an additional $50 daily elsewhere just to be closer to the children.
“A young innocent man lost his life for nothing, I never know him to be in crime or anything; all he does is mind his two children. The Government need to ‘camerise’ the whole country if they want to make a difference,” Cooper said.
“If a man do a crime anywhere they could ketch him on camera because he have to stop somewhere. What they waiting on? Police can't be everywhere and people fearful to give information most of the time, so this is the best solution.”
Cooper, who was very vocal in his condemnation of Douglas’ killing, said the killers were “monsters,” adding that things like boot camps should be mandatory for teens who seemed to be heading down the wrong path.
“I telling you this boy don't be in anything. His only crime is what? Being a rasta? This hurting me because I doing construction by my place, and I was offering him a job paying $250 but he take this job here because it closer to home and he rather be closer to his children.
You understand the discipline that man have and the love he had for his children? This is just wickedness.
My message to them youths is put down the gun. We done know we have to die and we can't live forever, so what allyuh shortening allyuh lifespan for?”
Douglas’ father, Godfrey, told the media he gave his son a small level and measuring tape after he began his career in construction. He said his last of six children was never involved in anything which warranted him being killed.
“I just want justice. Let the police or relevant authorities take the necessary step and get the perpetrators who do this. I don't have to lie to tell you he would smoke a little weed, but that's it,” the senior Douglas said.
In an unrelated incident, police are also investigating the murder of Cunupia resident Ashton Villafana.
According to reports, Villafana, 26, of Homeland Gardens, had gone to a nearby lotto booth along the Southern Main Road on his bicycle around 3.30 pm, when he was approached by two gunmen who shot him several times. The men then got into a green Toyota Yaris and escaped. Police later found the vehicle abandoned in Chaguanas.
The murder toll stood at 79 up to last evening.