By CHESTER ROBARDS

Tribune Senior Reporter

crobards@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN whose husband was murdered almost two years ago became the country’s latest murder victim yesterday when she was shot in the head during an apparent robbery.

Police say they have launched an island-wide manhunt for the suspect.

The Tribune understands the woman’s name is Margaret Altime.

Superintendent Paul Rolle, who spoke to the media at the scene, said Altime and a man, who was shot in the thigh, were inside a convenience store on East Street, opposite Kelly’s Lumber Yard, when they were robbed and shot.

A police report said a man entered the store with a handgun, demanded cash, then shot Altime and the man before escaping on foot with an “undetermined amount of cash”.

The man was taken to the hospital, but Altime, who reportedly owns the store called The Tuck Shop, was pronounced dead at the scene by Emergency Medical Services officials, according to Mr Rolle.

“Officers on patrol were alerted by residents and directed to the small shop just behind us,” he said. “Upon entering, they noticed that a male was suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg and a female suffering from a gunshot would to the upper body.”

Crowds of people, who claimed to know Altime, crowded around the crime scene. A woman who was described by onlookers as being Altime’s sister, wailed loudly next to the convenience store as the body was taken out of the building, prompting others in the nearby crowd to do the same.

As the crowd burst through the police tape and moved toward the store people had to be helped as they cried and became weak kneed, while many people could be heard saying: “She was such a nice lady.”

Police said the shooting suspect is described as being a dark male of slim build, standing 6 feet tall. They said he was wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans at the time of the robbery.

Officer in charge of the East Street/Coconut Grove area, Superintendent Philip Don Wilson, said police patrols have been stepped-up in this area following 26 shootings in 2012 that led to 21 murders.

He said he and his officers have set out a course to curb violent crime throughout the Grove area “where we are most challenged.”

He said this is the first murder in the South Central Division for the year. Murder locations for 2011 showed a high volume of murders for that year occurring all along East Street.

Police are appealing to members of the public who might have information regarding this incident to contact them at 919 or at 328-TIPS (New Providence) or 300-8476 (Family Islands).