Woman killed in the presence of her grandsons 3 months after their father’s murder

A woman was shot and killed in Paul Over Tuesday night in the presence of her grandsons whose father was killed in a similar fashion in Pole Yard three months earlier.

The dead woman, Marilyn John aka Maro, a businesswoman who operates near Randy’s Supermarket in Arnos Vale, was shot a few hundred feet from where she lives next to another man who was murdered this year.

iWitness News was reliably informed that multiple police units responded around 9:30 p.m. to reports of loud explosions in the Paul Over area that did not sound like the traditional blowing of bamboo.

When officers arrived, they saw John’s van crossways in the road with several windows shot out.

She was unresponsive and lying back in the vehicle with blood flowing from her body. She was later pronounced dead at the scene, becoming the 39th homicide victim in St. Vincent and the Grenadines this year.

A well-placed source told iWitness News that two of John’s grandsons whose father, Jomarl John, 30, was shot and killed in Pole Yard, Arnos Vale on July 13, were also in the vehicle.

An adult male was also in the vehicle at the time.

Reports are that the woman’s masked assailant(s) demanded money then immediately shot her before fleeing, allegedly without taking anything.

iWitness News understands that Marilyn John was shot a few hundred yards from her home, where she lived next to Dwayne Jacobs, 34, whose bullet-ridden body was found along the bank of a river near his home in Paul Over on June 19.

Jacobs’ body was found when police returned to the area that morning, having responded the previous night to a report of gunshots in the area. When police initially responded to the report, Jacobs was not found at his home.

Ms John’s son, Jomarl John, a vendor, was one of two people shot and killed in Pole Yard on July 13.

Jomarl John was inside a shop when an assailant opened fire, also injuring Sylvanus Matthias, 63, who was treated in hospital for his injuries.

However, Jason St. Rose, a 16-year-old student, who reports suggest might not have been targeted, was shot and killed as the assailant fled after killing Jomarl.

Marilyn John used Facebook frequently to express her feelings about the death of her son, saying in a post on Sept. 25 that some people thought that she would have been at her worst stage after his death.

“…but i am a very strong woman an the lord brace an strenghten me for this battle that i am facing,” she said, adding that while she was missing her son everyday, her love for him would always be unconditional.

She said her prayers would not go unanswered because she served “a true and living god from whom i will get my justice for my son”.

The Johns is the second family in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Murray’s Village-Paul Over area to have two close relatives shot and killed this year.

Zeno Lee aka Sarge was shot and killed in Murray’s Village on June 16, less than two months after his younger brother, Zenroy Lee aka Chucky, 31 was shot and killed in the East Kingstown community.

Police have charged Lemar Issacs aka Chak, 22, unemployed, of McKies Hill, with murder in connection with Zeno’s death.

They have also said that Zenroy was killed by Romano Pompey aka No Mercy, 35.

Police shot and killed Pompey in Redemption Sharpes about three hours after Zenroy’s death, saying that he attempted to shoot at officers who were trying to arrest him.