Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer

Alvin Desmond Smith, a 49-year-old garage operator, was shot and killed in front of his business place by a gunman on foot about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Mr. Smith, also known as 'Texas', was the Jamaica Labour Party's candidate for the Greenvale division in the 2003 local government election.

An employee told The Gleaner that he was inside the garage when he heard a man called Mr. Smith by his nickname, after which he heard a barrage of gunshots. He said he, along with others in the garage, took cover until the shooting subsided and, when he looked out, he saw a man leaving the scene.

Dead at hospital

Another person who was close by gave chase, but the lone gunman escaped through bushes which led to a neighbouring community.

Mr. Smith was rushed to the Mandeville Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A nurse at the hospital said it appeared that Mr. Smith received at least four shots to the midsection.

Sally Porteous, deputy mayor of Mandeville and the JLP's candidate for central Manchester in the recent general election, who visited the hospital, condemned the killing which took place only yards away from Mr. Smith's wife and son.

This is the 25th murder in the parish since the start of the year. The police, who were quick on the scene, recovered several spent shells and are trying to determine the motive for the killing.