Residents of Vauxhall, Christ Church, are reeling after 43-year-old Rommell Cadell became the island’s eighth homicide victim this year in a fatal shooting early Wednesday morning.
Two other men were injured in the attack, which has sparked urgent calls for action against escalating gun crime in the typically peaceful district.
Cadell’s cousin, Julian Trotman, was shocked by the unexpected violence. He recounted hearing gunshots around 1:15 a.m., but didn’t see or hear any vehicles or commotion until one of the victims called for help.
He said: “This morning about 1:15/1:30 I heard about six shots, and I said the way how these sound they sound very close to me so when I made my checks, I didn’t see or hear any vehicle or any movement about the place or anything so, and after I came out, then I heard one of the guys saying, ‘somebody help me, I get hit. I get shoot in my back.’ The police were called and everything but I didn’t see any vehicles around, I didn’t hear any kind of movement, it was very quiet until I hear the shots ring out.”
Trotman, who last saw Cadell alive last weekend, said his relative was mouthy, but he was not an aggressive person.
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described Cadell as a fun-loving person and expressed deep concern about the rise of gun violence.
“I am very concerned about people with guns actually,” the resident said. “We haven’t had anything like this in a very long time about here, it is a shock to us and it is very devastating to the whole family. He was a very fun-loving person, he used to walk and talk to himself a little bit, but he was a fun loving person. Last time I saw him was Saturday night. This shocked me a whole lot.”
Deanzer Roberts, another Vauxhall resident, lamented the loss of Cadell’s warmth, kindness, and carefree spirit. She emphasised that Cadell was not a violent person and enjoyed socialising and sharing laughter with others.
“Today, we mourn Rommel Cadell—a friend, a neighbour, a gem. To know Rommel was to know warmth, kindness, and a deep love for life. He had a way of making people feel seen, calling me a queen and speaking with admiration. But above all, he had a love for his mother that was unwavering—he would do anything for her. That kind of love, that kind of devotion, is rare. Vauxhall will never be the same without him. His laughter, his energy, and his carefree spirit brought joy to all who knew him. Pin Head, as we called him, was never one to look for trouble. He would enjoy his drink, share a laugh, talk his talk, and walk away from anything else. He was not a man of violence—yet violence found him.”
Roberts condemned gun violence, highlighting its devastating impact on families and communities. She stressed the need for accountability and emphasised that every life lost to gun violence diminishes society as a whole.
She said: “Gun violence is not just a problem for those who pull the trigger or those who fall victim to it—it is a crisis that affects us all. It breeds fear, disrupts peace, and robs communities of their sense of security. Children are growing up witnessing senseless deaths, learning to expect tragedy instead of hope. This is not the future we want for them.
“We need stronger community programmes that provide support and guidance to those at risk of turning to violence. We need more intervention, education, and opportunities for young people to choose a different path. We need accountability for those who bring harm to our communities.
“Every time a life is lost, a piece of our society is lost with it. Every gunshot fired echoes through the hearts of families, through the walls of homes, and through the streets where children should be playing, not dodging bullets.” (SD)
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