The first month of 2026 has been a deadly one for Ladyville residents. Yesterday saw two more murders - making it 5 killings in 20 days - in a village.
Yesterday evening's victims were friends who were killed minutes apart, reportedly by the same perpetrator.
Their families are unsure about why they were targeted, but police seem to believe drugs were involved. Courtney Menzies went to Ladyville today and has this story.
26 year old Shackeem Ferguson and 29 year old Elroy Bainton had been hanging out yesterday evening in Ladyville. They both went their separate ways and were killed minutes apart.
Ferguson was targeted first, only a few feet away from his home.
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"Information is that Ferguson went to his house after going to the store, and he was approached by a male person who was in the vehicle, who fired several shots towards his direction, causing his fatal injuries.We are seeking two suspects and a vehicle in regards to this murder."
Reporter
"So, can you tell us anything?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"We have information that it is drug - related, and he was targeted as he was going to his house."
Reporter
"Is it that individuals who were following him?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"Yes, that is the information we have, that he was at another address in Ladyville, and he was followed from there, and that is where he was targeted as he arrived at his house."
Ferguson was shot in the back and the vehicle sped off. about 15 minutes later, Bainton was shot outside of his apartment complex on Yellowtail Street. Police believe the two men were specifically targeted by the same gunman.
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"Yes, we believe they are connected. These persons were together prior to the shootings at Yellow Tail Street. Shakeem left and he was followed, and then they came back for Bainton."
Reporter
"Are we assuming that it's the same perpetrator?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"That is information we're getting, it's the same perpetrator with the vehicle."
Reporter
"What can you divulge about, partly about the motive?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"I mentioned for the first one, it is drug-related, and they are affiliated with a group in Ladyville."
Reporter
"Is it that it's some sort of turf war or an internal dispute of sorts?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"The information we have, it is an internal issue they're having."
Reporter
"And since we recognize that they're affiliated will you be doing anything?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"Yes, we will enforce patrols in that area, and additional police and investigators have been sent to Ladyville to deal with these murders."
But for both families, it's a major shock. Ferguson's sister explained that she would have never guessed violence would strike their area or their family.
Voice of: Sister of Deceased
"I don't see my brother as gang person to say he was hanging on the street or anything like that. He is always through this alley relaxing and like would just drink with these girls by the shop and things like that. So I wouldn't say who would want to hurt my brother."
"For the 36 years I've been living through this alley, I never expected something like this would happen. He always got home. I hear about people dying in Ladyville but I didn't expect death would knock at our door to say that one of our brother's got shot."
And apart from Ferguson, she also has to mourn Bainton, who was like a brother to her.
Voice of: Sister of Deceased
"He was a cool person, we were always drinking and partying together. We had a lot of fun together. Now that I lost him, it's really rough for me. I lost him and I lost my mom. Then Bainton, I don't know what else I could say."
Courtney Menzies:
"You were close to his friend as well?"
Voice of: Sister of Deceased
"I was like his closest sister. I grew up with him, I always been up and down with him like through bad time like when he went to school and got into problems, I was like the sister that was always there for him."
"It's really rough on us right now. We're taking it like one day at a time, we're just waiting for the autopsy to deal with our brother to put him to rest. We don't want any problems with anybody or anybody to harass me because I don't really fool with people. It's really rough for me. I just have to live with it."
Both men leave behind one young daughter each.
Police have not made any arrests yet.
