'I hoped for a miracle' after fatal shooting

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

ALPHEA Jones said she knew her daughter was dead the second she saw her lying on her bedroom floor, but held on to hope that a miracle would bring her back.

Her daughter, 24-year-old Leoniece Jones, was shot in the neck in her Yellow Elder Gardens home early Tuesday morning.

Police say, she was at home with her family, when an unknown person or persons fired several shots through her bedroom window, hitting her multiple times. Leoniece was taken to hospital by a private vehicle, but died on arrival.

Mrs Jones said she heard the gunshots, but did not think someone in her home was shot because she did not hear any screams or any alarming noises.

“She was in the bedroom doing her hair for work and we all heard the shots, but I thought it was on the outside. It wasn’t until my son came to me and said ‘Niecey got shot’ that we realised something was wrong,” she said.

“She made no sounds, she never screamed. When I went into the room, I knew she was already dead, but we still carried her to the hospital.

“When we got there the doctors said she was gone. Just like that my baby was gone. She was a nice person, who never bothered anyone. She was loving and kind and dutiful. She was always at peace, everyone loved her, she didn’t get into arguments, she is going to be missed by so many.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said police currently have no one in custody nor do they have any motive for the killing.

“We do know if it was in retaliation for the murder that happened through Yellow Elder a few days earlier, but as it looks now, we do not think it is – it does not seem so,” he said.

“We are still trying to determine the reason for the killing, very shortly we will be able to say who the target was in the house because a male relative had just arrived home shortly before the shooting,” he added.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or crime stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

Comments

Honeybun says...

Senseless

Posted 2 April 2014, 3 p.m. Suggest removal

JohnDoes says...

As well as the 'fellas' could have shot up the wrong house. We see this happen time and time again where the 'hitman/men' gets the address wrong.

Posted 2 April 2014, 4:31 p.m. Suggest removal

carmichaelrdgal says...

Mothers will continue to weep. They know their sons are trouble makers and is fine with it. These young boys can go and come as please and its ok. Girls have to always be in but look what he brought to this family. Many will weep because of these young men whom they keep living in their house til they get grey and not even working, Mothers and fathers are bring shame to this society. Know what the biggest problem is with these boys? Love company too much.

Posted 2 April 2014, 5:58 p.m. Suggest removal

KM says...

I totally agree with you, especially the "love company too much". This senseless killing will ruin what is left of this country. A mother has to now bury her daughter and for what !??!!. May God be with this family in this time.

Posted 2 April 2014, 7:16 p.m. Suggest removal

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