2 friends were executed over the long weekend. Their bodies were found on Saturday afternoon, thrown on a feeder road along the Western Highway. 23 year old Godwin Panting better known as "Paps" and 27 year old Albert Wade better known as "Taka" were shot dead. Now it is not clear as to what these men were doing on the feeder road or if they met up at that location but there are several reports which suggest they were lured there. Courtney Weatherburne has more details.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Godwin Panting had been working at Pepper's Pizza since late 2014. He was a contracted deliveryman. And in just those few years, he developed a close friendship with his co-workers.
Shamira Thurton, Cashier, Pepper's Pizza
"He was a really nice person."
They were waiting for him to show up to work on Saturday morning but he never came in. But later on they found out
Panting's body had been found on a feeder road between miles 12 and 13 on the Western Highway.
He along with his friend Albert Wade, were shot dead. Panting's father says the last time he saw his son was at a family gathering on Monday. He didn't hear anything about his son since then until Saturday afternoon.
Godwin Panting Sr., Father
"When I come back it was when my daughter call me and I get the news that my son was murdered, this is about I get that message from my daughter on Saturday afternoon."
Albert Wade's sister was also hit hard with news. She had gone to the city on Saturday to meet her brother, but all she found was his dead body splayed in the mud.
Marybeth Wade, Albert Wade's Sister
"When I reached there all I could do is hold my brother on the ground and kneel down I said "TaKa get up please, Taka get up please, I need you, I love you my brother, you are my twin, my half." Courtney they don't know how they hurt me how they took my brother."
"That boy is hard ears that is what I told him when I kneeled down, I told him Taka you didn't listen to me, I told you stay home."
The information is that they were executed in a battle over drug turf. While these families say they don't know anything about that, Panting's and Wade's relatives believe it was a planned execution.
Godwin Panting Sr., Father
"I think it was a setup and a robbery, that's is what they did to my son and that young man, it was a setup and a robbery."
Pearl Wade, Albert Wade's Mother
"No one can say that it is drugs related or what happen, because no one found drugs on the scene, so how can you say it is drug related. Only God Know what happened."
Courtney Weatherburne, 7News
"Again you have no idea what he was doing out there with his friend Paps? He didn't say anything? You no sure?"
Pearl Wade, Albert Wade's Mother
"I don't know but it was someone he trusted."
Courtney Weatherburne, 7News
"So you think they were set up? They were called out to that location to their death?"
Pearl Wade, Albert Wade's Mother
"Exactly, that exactly happen but like I said vengeance belongs to God."
And that is all these families can hold on to - faith that they will get Justice for their loved ones.
Pearl Wade, Mother
"I have a peace inside me because I know the last two weeks of his life, he gave his life to God."
But the sorrow is still heavy to bear.
Shamira Thurton, Cashier
"He has touched us, he left a hole in all of our hearts."
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