Email

Print

Well, he died shortly after, becoming the second man to be killed in the city in 24 hours. And it turns out that Roches happened to be an incidental target for a man looking to settle a petty argument. Here's more:…

At 6:00 yesterday 20 year old Justin Roaches was here at the Gwen Liz Basketball court waiting to play ball as he does every evening, when a dispute erupted:

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"There was an altercation between two youths on the basketball court at the Gwen Lizarraga High School compound. One of the youths left and return a little time later with a firearm - open fire at the person that he had this altercation with. That person escape unhurt. He then turn the firearm towards Justin Roaches and then open fire on Justin."

Roaches was shot to the right upper body and the buttocks and died from his injuries at a few minutes to 9:00 last night.

Roaches is from Mayflower Street - a troubled heavily gang-affiliated area of the city.

His family who did not wish to appear on camera - told us that until the age of 17, he had managed to escape the trappings of his environment. That is until he was shot in 2009 - they say simply because he was from Mayflower Street.

The Wesley third former and star athlete never got back into school after that - and got caught up on Mayflower street.

He was trying to get out by joining the Coast Guard and had already applied, but yesterday evening, with a random shooting, a gunman made sure this Mayflower male never got out of his hood.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"We have several persons detain for questioning as for their involvement as maybe being accessories but we are looking for the actual gunman and as soon as we get him hopefully to present him with his charges."

Roches - then just 17 - was shot at his girlfriend's home in January of 2009. The report at the time said he was shot in the right side of his abdomen and the bullet exited the right side of his lower back.