Youth Gunned Down on Gibnut Street…

Raheem Crawford

The murder of cycling legend Ernest ‘Jawmeighan’ Meighan was only one of four over the bloody weekend, a weekend which also saw seven persons fall in a deadly hail of lead. The weekend’s first murder occurred early Saturday morning. Twenty year old Raheem Crawford was on a motorbike with a friend, Kevin Faber, just a few feet from his house on Gibnut Street when they both came under attack from what Police say was a single gunman. When it was over both men were on the ground bleeding. Faber survived, but Crawford didn’t.  Mike Rudon went out looking for answers today and has the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

It’s was here, at the corner of Gibnut Street and Central American Boulevard, that twenty-one year old Raheem Crawford and his cousin, twenty-five yeard old Kevin Faber were both gunned down. The men were on a motorbike. They had gone to a dance earlier that night and were returning home after three am. In fact, they were only feet away from Crawford’s house on Gibnut Street when they were greeted by a hail of lead. Faber received injuries to the neck and leg, while Crawford was shot to the lower back.

Phillipa Longsworth, Grandmother of Deceased

“Coming back they lay-wait them by the lane by Gibnut street ya. The first one get shot da Kevin inna e neck back. He drop and then they shot up my grandson, Raheem Crawford, to death.”

Longsworth says Faber claims that they were followed from the dance by a black car and somebody in that car shot at them. So why did somebody want the men, or at least one of the men, dead?

Phillipa Longsworth

“I noh know, I noh know…the one weh just come in noh have no enemy. But Raheem have enemy; he had lot of enemies, lot of enemies.”

Reporter

“Did he discuss it with you?”

Phillipa Longsworth

Phillipa Longsworth

“Cause dey bwoy wah kill a an ting…and he hafto stay inna di yard, noh deh come out, because as he come out they wah shot ah.”

Kevin Faber was a deportee, just recently sent back to the country. Crawford, who succumbed to his injuries one hour after he was shot, was no stranger to Police. In fact, the Police report sent out this weekend states that he was a suspect in four recent murders, but no charges could be brought against him because witnesses were not cooperating. But as bad as he apparently could be, Crawford had family who loved him.

Phillipa Longsworth

“He mi have good ways and he like laugh, and was friendly. Every time yu see he ih deh smile, that’s all he do, and like mek capers and soh.”

Reporter

“What was the last conversation you had with your grandson?”

Phillipa Longsworth

“Wen ih birthday, wen ih get twenty-one, August the sixth; nuh August the second dah wen I give a wah money fu e birthday gift. That da di last time I see ah.”

According to their report, Police believe that the motive for the killing is gang rivalry. We note that there is no official word from the Police today on any of the multiple murders or shootings. We were called to the Raccoon Street Police Station, along with other media personnel, at two pm for a briefing…and after waiting until almost three, were informed that according to Mr. Broaster…there would be no briefing. Mike Rudon for News Five.

News Five has confirmed that there is one suspect currently held for the murder of Raheem Crawford, and it is expected that he will be charged shortly.  The person in custody is a well known street figure who handed himself over to police on Sunday.