Mother’s Day joy short-lived through son’s death
DESPITE A 16.4 per cent reduction in murders year on year, with 409 reports as at April 30, this brings little comfort to families whose loved ones have fallen victim at the hands of coldblooded killers.
Among the latest to be plunged into mourning is a Kingston mother and son, who identified themselves as Tina and Tuwain. Tuwain is a former policeman.
Tina’s younger son, 21-year-old Tajay Porter, was murdered on Monday on the way to work in his Pretoria Road community, which is located between Maxfield Avenue and Waltham Park Road.
Porter, according to his mother, worked as a sideman unloading trailers.
Police reports are that Tajay was shot and killed about 7 a.m.
His brother, who told The Gleaner they lived a clean life in the crime-torn community, said the killer allegedly hugged Porter before pumping bullets into his upper body.
The former cop told The Gleaner that the euphoria surrounding Mother’s Day was short-lived for his mom, who lost her son the morning after.
Tuwain said his brother bought their mother a Mother’s Day drink and gave her ‘a thing’, while showing his love and appreciation.
She was inconsolable throughout this interview and Tuwain, who is just three years older than Tajay.
“She a cry a say she never have anywhere to put him,” said Tuwain. “He was progressive and had dreams. Him a save him money ... him wanted to go somewhere else to live and pay rent.”
Given how the early morning killing played out, some residents are speculating that the killers and Tajay may have known each other.
“People see dem a talk and then a scuffle (broke out), but through a two a dem and him one. Him never get to fulfil his dreams,” his brother told The Gleaner.
Porter, our news team was told, did not shy away from showing affection for his mother. He was also said to be very protective of her.
“Him love him mother, nobody can’t diss him mother ... quick to defend her and he loved to work. Any work you give him, him do,” his brother said, adding that he is still in disbelief, even after identifying his body at the morgue on Monday.
Tuwain said they shared a bond from childhood to adult, that has now been shattered by the murder.
A resident told The Gleaner: “How she fi have a happy Mother’s Day ever again and she afi live with the memory that her son dead after. No mother want that feeling. The police dem need fi find the killers and mek di family get justice. Crime can reach a anybody door these days.”
The St Andrew South Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB) is investigating the murder.
The division has recorded a 20.5 per cent reduction in murders since the start of the year, with eight less homicides for the period under review.
The top five murderous police divisions are rounded out by St James (54), Clarendon (39), Westmoreland (36), Kingston Western (33) and St Andrew South (31).
The Government this morning imposed a state of public emergency in the parishes of St James, Clarendon and Hanover.