Horace Fisher, Gleaner Writer

SANDY BAY, Clarendon:

CORPORAL GARY Morgan, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldier who died Monday morning after he was shot Saturday night, was described as a 'do-gooder'.

Morgan, who was on his way home from a friend's house that was burned down earlier in the day, was pounced upon by thugs, allegedly returning from a robbery in Green Bottom, Sandy Bay, Clarendon.

According to the deceased's neighbours, who described the army officer as a quiet, Christian husband and father, who would go out of his way to assist others in need, his death has left the community tense and his immediate family uprooted.

"Brother Morgan is a very quiet gentleman. He is a Christian, a father and a good husband, and look how they just kill him, left his wife and two young children like that," lamented one of the few persons in Green Bottom who would speak with our news team about the incident.

"Morgan's shooting has now made the community tense and we are afraid. As you can see, his house is locked up, and his wife and kids have moved out."

Investigating officers at the May Pen Police Station said, according to preliminary investigations, Corporal Morgan was shot and killed about 10.30 p.m.

"Our preliminary investigation is indicating that the JDF officer may have encountered a group of men returning from a robbery spree in the parish, who shot and killed him at about 10.30 Saturday night," said the investigator, who requested anonymity because of the force's protocol.

"Our investigation is ongoing, and we will have a presence in the community to apprehend the perpetrators and to reassure the citizens there," he added.

rural@gleanerjm.com