A Bain Town family was left in shock after a gunman killed a grandmother as she lay in bed watching television Thursday night.
The woman was identified as Viola Mae Smith, 76.
The murder came as many people were hunkered down in their homes weathering Hurricane Sandy.
Prime Minister Perry Christie called the killing a “wanton disregard for human life”.
Frances Sands, a resident of Eneas Street, said her bedridden mother was shot several times by an unseen gunman who took aim at her through a bedroom window of their wooden home.
Sands said she was in her bedroom watching a weather report on Hurricane Sandy when she heard three loud pops just after 8 p.m.
Sands said she ran into her den and met her son peering out of the front window. Sensing something was not right she said she went to her mother’s bedroom door to check on her.
“All I could think of was my mummy,” said Sands at her home yesterday. “I stood in the hallway by her bedroom door. I was too afraid to go in there. Her TV was on, the light wasn’t on, but from the reflection from the TV I saw this white residue on her face.”
Sands said one of her sons went to check on her mother and found her dead. Evidence of the shooting was still in the bedroom when The Nassau Guardian visited the scene.
A blood soaked pillow was propped up on the twin mattress where Smith had slept. A portion of the mattress was also ripped apart by bullets.
A single bullet hole pierced the room’s only window and four other bullet holes could be seen in the eastern wall.
Smith was released from hospital three weeks ago and could only ingest liquids, according to her daughter.
She had been confined to her bed for the past two years and doctors told the family there was nothing more they could do for her.
However, the family did not expect her to die at the hands of a gunman.
Smith’s relatives have questioned why someone would want to harm the elderly woman and suspect that the bullets may have been intended for another occupant of the house.
“I don’t know if it was meant for one of my boys,” said Sands, whose four adult sons live with her. “My mummy didn’t deserve that.
“My mummy didn’t do [anything to anyone]. My mummy lived her life; [she was] well known. I didn’t do [anything to anyone] for someone to do something to my mummy.”
Sands said neighbors told her they saw a man run away from the home and jump over a fence Thursday night.
However, she had no description of the gunman.
Smith was “in high spirits” Thursday and spent quality time with her young grandchildren, her daughter said.
Sands said Smith, a former newspaper vendor, was well liked and known in the Bain Town community as Miss Ola.
Police said they were uncertain of the circumstances surrounding the killing and have asked anyone with information to call 919, 322-3333/4, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9910, 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.
The latest murder brought the count for the year to 95.
By Taneka Thompson
Guardian Senior Reporter
