23-Year-Old Gunned Down in Ladyville

Anfernee Anderson

A murder in a peaceful area of Ladyville over the weekend has a family in shock. Reporter Andrea Polanco visited the family today to find out what happened to a young father who had been doing well in his job at a call center. 

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

This blood stained spot marks where twenty-three-year-old Anfernee Anderson died after he was shot on Manta Ray Boulevard in Ladyville on Monday night. It is directly across from his family’s property and where he lived – but how did he end up here? A few minutes after Anfernee walked out of his house to turn on this water valve, someone on Plunkett Road called out to him.

Christal Young, Cousin of the Deceased

“The young men were already waiting for him. They called him out and he came towards them and that is when they fired the first shot. When he got hit he ran down the street trying to avoid the family yard because there are a lot of houses in the yard and a lot of kids.”

Andrea Polanco

“Did the family know at that moment that it was after Anfernee they were firing those shots?”

Christal Young

“No they didn’t know and when the gunshots were ringing off everybody just basically went low.”

Christal Young

Anfernee was already injured and as he ran down Manta Ray Boulevard he called out for help but it was too late.  He collapsed on the side of the street and that’s when the killer stood over him and fired the deadly shots.

Christal Young

“He shouted for his mom and that is when she ran out. That’s the last thing he said – he cried out for his mom and the young man came over him and completely shoot out the rest of the bullets.”

Andrea Polanco

“Do you believe the shooter or shooters knew Anfernee – that he was familiar with them?”

Christal Young

“More than likely because they called him out so they knew him and so it someone he knew or had an altercation with before because they knew his name.”

Christal Young says that the shooter then turned the gun towards the property and fired shots – the splintered wood is all that left’s behind of that shooter’s rage.

Christal Young

“He turned to one of my other cousins home right there and when he saw them over him the young man turned around and fired two shots towards him and so the bullets went straight through his home as well and thankfully we didn’t lose somebody else as well.”

Young says the family has no clear answers what may have triggered this deadly attack.

Christal Young

“They came with a vengeance. We are not sure what it was. I won’t stand here and tell you my little cousin neva got into anything because he was a person who always stood up for himself and he didn’t allow people to take advantage of him.”

Andrea Polanco

“And Anfernee never shared if he had any problems or any threats were made on his life recently?”

Christal Young

“Not of recently. I know in the past he got in fights and so because like I said he is a person who doesn’t back down. He always fight for himself so I don’t know if his past came back to haunt him somehow but he settled down a lot after he had his daughter.  So we just want to know why? Why did they end up taking his life so cruelly.”

Anfernee Anderson

Today was supposed to be a big day for him at work, and his cousin says he was devoted to his family.

Christal Young

“He is always working hard. He protects his family. He takes care of them. If things are tight he tries his best to do what he needs to do to provide for his family and his mom and dad as well. So, really and truly they really took someone from us because he always helps out.  He was working at Alta Resources – A BPO- and he was supposed to receive an award today at his job. He just cleaned his tennis off and had a brand new shirt and he said he is going to get his award tomorrow, Tuesday. The pants is still on the bed and he has this award that they were going to train him for another position. But they just took his life and cut him short. He had so much to look forward to. So much.  We grew up together and our entire childhood was in this yard and so losing him like this is really hard for us.”

Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.

Today, police told reporters that they don’t believe Anfernee Anderson was the intended target.  According to the cops, their investigation shows that the shooting may have resulted from a feud between two rivaling groups, but they pointed out that Anderson wasn’t a member of either group.