4 bullets made Steven James’ ride to the shop his last
His family says that his friends called him out to go and buy fonto but a few minutes later, the twenty-nine year old man was lying dead in a pool of his own blood. Four of five gunshots found their way into the body of Steven James. He received one shot to the middle of his chest, two to the upper left side of his body and one to the lower side of his back. According to police and family members, James was at his family’s home on Freetown Road up until nine p.m. on Wednesday night.
Superintendent Julio Valdez, O.C., C.I.B.
“Police received information of a shooting on Vernon Street. Police visited the scene where they saw the body with some gunshot wounds who was later identified as Steven James, twenty-nine years, of Jane Usher Boulevard. He was the person who was deceased, found dead in the area there. Investigation at this time reveal that sometime he was riding on a bicycle in front of Pio Pio, Chinese Restaurant and a lone gunman approached him and fired some four shots that caused him the injuries. He was taken to the hospital and he was pronounced dead on arrival.”
Jose Sanchez
“Did he have any enemies or anything you know?”
Voice of Aunt of Steven James
“As far as I know he had lots of enemies out deh, you know.”
Jose Sanchez
“Was he a bad man? What kind of guy was Steven?”
Voice of Aunt of Steven James
“As far as I know he was not a bad person but he just like heng out with friends. He kind inna all kind ah way; he help people and thing. I am Steven James’ aunt and this young man by the name of Pico, better known as Miller, come last night and tell we dat he send Steven gone buy a piece ah fonto and he seh he mi di walk behind. And I da really want dehn look into it and find out to di bottom ah it weh happen and weh gone on cause he mi di go from behind to meet Steven.”
Jose Sanchez
“So Steven was on a bicycle going to a shop, do you find it strange that a gunman could find him so easily?”
Voice of Aunt of Steven James
“Exactly.”
Jose Sanchez
“So do you think these guys had anything to do with it? Do you think he was set up?”
Voice of Aunt of Steven James
“Most naturally, I think dehn set up ah.”
Jose Sanchez
“What have they told you afterwards?”
Voice of Aunt of Steven James
“Dehn tell me dehn just send ah gone buy wah fonto and dehn seh say dehn mi di stand up and talk and after that dehn gone behind ah and dehn yer gunshot and thing and dehn run.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is he someone that the police is familiar with?”
Supt. Julio Valdez
“Yes, Steven James is familiar with the police. We have dealt with him on several occasions, several times before previously to this incident. He is known to the police. The investigation in the matter continues. We have a suspect named, who I cannot name at this time. But we have a suspect that we are looking for who we believe is the person who did the shooting.”
James leaves behind a daughter and several step-children. The police say that while they are looking for a particular suspect, they have not established a motive for this violent crime.
