Toddler saved as dad and other man shot dead

A toddler narrowly escaped harm early Tuesday morning thanks to the swift action of the twin brother of a man who, along with the child's father, were gunned down along Red Hills Road, St Andrew.

The victims are 30-year-old Shavana 'Shavi' Palmer and 26-year-old Corey 'Twinny' Hunter, both residents of Colbeck Avenue, Kingston 20.

About 12:30 a.m. the two men, both delivery riders, were seated at a local shop. A motor vehicle approached, and assailants disembarked, opening gunfire on the men. Upon the arrival of the police, Palmer and Hunter were found laying in a pool of blood. They were taken to hospital where they were confirmed dead.

Tamara Watson, Palmer's partner of four years with whom he has two children, recounted the harrowing moments during the attack.

"She [their daughter] was right there and a di twinny [Hunter's sibling] grab her and cover her deh so," she said, pointing at a space inside the shop. "Mi drop a grung and cover her mouth so she nuh mek no noise. When mi hear di car door slam mi come out, mi nuh see nothing, and when mi look up deh so mi see Shavi in a pool a blood and mi hug him and kiss him." With tears streaming down her face, Watson held her children, who remained blissfully unaware that they would never see their father again. Palmer's sister Racquel Henry said that she had no idea why anyone would want to hurt him.

"Shavana is a 'cussy' person but he is not bad. Him and family members will argue but next two minute we and him good again," she said. Palmer had initially pursued music, but transitioned to entrepreneurship, running a shop that offered everyday items.

Henry added, "Him also do food delivery and wah day yah him get him pay and him done it pon him daughter."

Henry said that the tragic incident has irrevocably altered the family's Christmas plans.

"Mi nah mek no more plans. Everything weh mi did a plan get stop and I don't want to go nowhere."

Fellow delivery workers expressed reluctance to continue waiting for delivery requests at the shop.

"A deh so a our likkle base, but a done we done wid deh so.We cyaa feel good bout it, a just words mi cyaa find," one rider said.