When news of Sunday’s fatal shooting spread in the community, George Town resident Omar Morgan said he was stunned to learn that the man who had been killed was his friend Jason Johnson.
“He was a good person from what I know of him, not giving any trouble. I never hear his name calling [in] anything,” Morgan said in an interview with the Cayman Compass on Tuesday.
Johnson, 36, a Jamaican national, was shot and killed on Sunday night near his residence on Bronze Road, George Town.
Police said the incident happened at around 8:30pm.
Johnson was standing outside his home when he was shot. He was transported to the George Town Hospital by private vehicle, where he was pronounced dead by the attending doctor.
It is currently believed that the murder was the result of a local dispute, and does not appear to be gang related.
‘He never give anyone any trouble’
He was not known to the police and had not been involved in “any criminality, he was just a hard worker”, the Compass was told by another person, who did not want to be named.
Morgan, who said he has known Johnson for about three years, said the construction worker was always a pleasant individual.
“He was not a talkative person. He never give anyone any trouble. From the time I know him he just stay more to himself … It definitely came as a shock. I never hear of him and anyone having any disputes or anything like that. It’s definitely shocking,” he said.
Morgan, who also works in the area of the shooting, declined to be photographed.
He said Johnson was still grieving the loss of his mother who passed away in Jamaica last year.
He added he felt sad for Johnson’s brother, who will now have to bury his sibling so soon after laying his mother to rest.
“I would like to send condolence to the family in this time of grief; just remain strong,” he said.
Another resident in the area expressed sadness after learning of Johnson’s death.
He said he never expected that Johnson would have been killed in such a way.
“It was really sad news,” he said.
Residents concerned by violence
Though the police caution tape has been removed from the scene of the murder, residents and workers on Bronze Road said the situation has left them concerned.
“I never expected that to happen here,” a worker near the murder scene said on Tuesday.
He said often people would be playing dominoes and hanging out in the area, and he never imagined such violence would come to their community.
Morgan said he has lived in the Bronze Road area for almost four years, and “nothing like this has ever happened. I assume it’s shocking to everyone in this area.”
Police have said they have increased patrols in the neighbourhood.
No suspects have been arrested as yet and investigators are encouraging witnesses to come forward to assist with the probe.
Morgan said while he does not feel unsafe he is uncertain about what to make of the whole incident.
Another of Johnson’s neighbours said he was surprised to learn that there was a shooting near his home.
He said on Sunday night he was returning home when he saw police activity around Johnson’s residence and the area cordoned off.
When he asked what happened, he said he was told someone had been shot and killed.
“I was shocked because I’m not used to these things happening. Though I’m from Jamaica, I’m not from those areas where these things usually happen. So it’s kind of shocking to know that these things happen here, especially near to my doorsteps in the Cayman Islands,” he said.
The resident added he usually keeps to himself and while he did not know Johnson personally he was saddened by his death.
Anyone with information about the circumstances that led to Johnson’s death is asked to call 911 or contact the RCIPS Major Incident Room at 649-2930.
Anonymous tips can also be sent directly to the RCIPS via the confidential tip line at 949-7777 or via the RCIPS website.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously via the Cayman Crime Stoppers website or by downloading the Cayman Crime Stoppers app.
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