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Basketball and Bullets
posted (March 17, 2016)
Last night just as the news was winding down, we heard police and ambulance sirens scream past our Albert Street studio. They were racing to Cemetery Lane on the Yabra basketball court where a 31 year old had been shot multiple times. Godfrey Hemsley had his guard down, as he rested between games on a court he knew very well - when a shooter crept up on him. Courtney Weatherburne has the story:...

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Just minutes before, Godfrey Hemsley was dribbling this ball on the court. He had challenged a few friends to a round of 5 games - he lost only one. But those are only 5 games out of the many Hemsley has played every evening on this court - right behind his house. Last night was no different. He went home after work, changed off and went to shoot some hoops.

But after those games were over, he rested on the bleachers - getting ready to play a couple more. But that is when a gunman crept up behind him and shot him several times.

The ambulance dashed over to the KHMH to try and save him. But shortly after his family got the news.

This morning police were out on the scene again ferreting for evidence that could give them more answers.

But while they search the area, the family has to try and wipe out the memory of their loved one bleeding out right in front of them.

Voice of Girlfriend
"As I'm looking to come out through my door, I heard the shots. So I ran out and went to the back gate, a lady ran up to me and said "it's God, he got shot". I ran to the court where I saw him already bleeding, so I just grabbed him. In less than a minute a police truck came to the court. His mom and I jumped in the back of the truck and took him to the hospital where unfortunately he didn't make it. I'm telling you straight up, words can't explain how I'm feeling right now. I don't know how I'm going to get over it, I just need strength from the father because I don't know how I'm going to get over this."

The family says what makes it even harder to accept is that the boy they believe killed Hemsley, is practically family. They told us they saw him running away after the shooting.

Voice of Girlfriend
"The father never sleeps and he sees everything. So when the father is ready to lash whoever it is, they'll just need to get lashed that's all I have to say."

For now though, all the family can do is treasure the joyous memories of him.

Voice of Girlfriend
"He was a very, how to say it, life of the party. Basically that's the words right there, life of the party. When God is coming around, that's because you know it's a lot of noise coming along with him. He loves his music and if he's anywhere and hear his tunes playing, he's going to bust a move and free himself. That's him."

But that life of the party was taken away from them on this basketball court - a space where Hemsley began his life as a young boy but now also where he drew his final breaths.

Hemsley was the father of one child, a nine year old girl. This was not the first time someone had tried to kill him. Our records show that Hemsley, who is linked to the Rocky road area, was shot eight times in 2005 - and in 2004, gunmen fired nine bullets into his mother's home.

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