Jarmila Jackson, Features Writer

The dark clouds rolled in as a single raindrop fell to the ground, the concrete is still stained with the victim's blood and the yellow tape is bundled up in a corner.

There is an emptiness in his mother's eyes. The woman beside her tightly clutched her arm.

"He was a loving son to me, he was my everything," muttered Ruby Edwards before fading into silence.

According to police reports, at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, 51-year-old businessman and political activist Cecil 'Petrol' Riley was seated with others outside his business place at Northern Park Way, Albion, St Thomas.

Two men on foot

The police say two men approached on foot, drew handguns and fired several shots, killing Riley and injuring his 20-year-old female employee, before fleeing the scene. The police say they recovered 21 spent shells and a number of bullet fragments from the scene. A motive for the crime has not yet been established.

The following morning, a gathering of more than 20 family members and friends turned up at the murder scene describing Riley as "kind" and "jovial".

One woman wrapped in sheets wailed uncontrollably.