Two young men were gunned down in the city last night. They were killed
less than half hour apart and both on the southside – within a few blocks
of each other. Close areas, but different neighbourhoods – and it is believed
that both of the killings have the marks of gang rivalry and retaliation. The
first to die was 22 year old Ervin James who was executed on Ross Penn Road.
It was a violent attack carried out with an automatic assault rifle leaving
the young Ervin James riddled with gunshots to his face and body. Keith Swift
has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
There were screams on Ross Penn Road last night as news spread that 22 year
old Ervin James aka Beans had been murdered. Beans was sitting in this bullet
riddled black Toyota Camry parked on Ross Penn Road around 11:20 last night
when a dark blue Camry pulled up and the driver opened fire. There was a spray
of bullets -which shattered the windows on the Camry, left bullet holes on walls, 
and in trees and startled residents on Ross Penn Road out of their slumber.
Cynthia Gill, Ross Penn Road Resident
“I can’t tell you how much because it was a lot and it was a
big gun it sounded like so I can’t how many gunshots. I was sleeping and
the lot of gunshots woke me up and when everything cooled off I heard bawling
and I came out on the verandah and I looked and I saw a crowd out there and
I told my husband it looks like somebody got shot and I heard somebody said
somebody got killed in the car, they shot up somebody in the car.”
Ervin James had been killed on the spot and at least two other persons had
been shot. James, known as Beans, lives on Mayflower Street and was home until
he got a call last night.
Michelle Reyes, Sister of Ervin James
“He received a call and right after he received the call he left and
he went and right after gunshots were heard and he died.”
James’ sister Michelle Reyes says her brother shouldn’t have been 
in that area.
Michelle Reyes,
“He was in an area he didn’t belong because we were surprised
when we got the call and they told us where he got shot and died because he
doesn’t go into that area. He is somebody from this area and if you know
the gang rivalry, you know that that side is Bloods and this side is Crips and
so he doesn’t go into those areas. It was surprising he was in the area.”
Ervin James was injured in the 2008 grenade blast on Mayflower Street and survived.
Last night he didn’t – and was transported from Ross Penn Road in
the pan of a police mobile.
Michelle Reyes,
“It is not like Earvin tell us everything that he did. We don’t
know but we know Earvin as a loving person, he always the make people laugh
and stuff like that. We want someone to get charged for his murder. We don’t
want it to left just like that. According to people they have a lot of eyewitnesses
so they should be someone getting charged for his murder. We don’t know
the full details yet but I guess as time goes by we will hear the word on the
street because you know word gets around.”
Residents on Ross Penn Road have long complained about the overgrown lots and
broken street lamps.
Cynthia Gill,
“I felt something would have happened so I stayed called and called
for them to come and fix the lights. I called City Council for help but now
they still haven’t come to fix the lights.”
Also shot in the assault were 20 year old Jerome Wade who received
injuries to his arm, thigh, and chest. He spent the night in the hospital but
was released this morning. Jerome’s 18 year old brother Gilbert received
a graze to the foot. He didn’t require hospitalization. Ervin James is
a cousin to Gilbert and Jerome Wade but he wasn’t in the area visiting
them. We were unable to ascertain if police have any suspects detained or if
as Ervin James’ sister declared – it might have been gang related.
Ervin James was one of 11 persons injured in the May 19th 2008 grenade
blast on Mayflower Street. He received lacerations on his legs. His brother
Teddy Reyes was also hurt.
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