Eighty-two- year-old JP, Colin Corrodus, who was shot and killed at his home in Epworth, St Ann on Monday night, January 2, resisted the gunmen who entered his home.
An area resident who was about to join a game of dominoes at Corrodus’ house recounted the events leading up to the shooting that night.
The man, whose identity is being withheld for security reasons, explained that the 82-year-old justice of the peace, who he called ‘Mr C’ disobeyed one of the gunman’s order to lie on the ground. Instead Mr Corrodus took up a stool to throw at one of the gunmen.
Indications are Mr Corrodus showed bravery as he sought to put up resistance to the criminals when he heard gunshots coming from his house. His wife was inside at the time.
Despite the attempts, Mr Corrodus, who has been described as the “Member of Parliament of Epworth” was shot thrice as the gunmen demanded his licensed firearm and money. The gunmen left with Mr Corrodus’ licensed firearm and stole $3,000 from another man.
JOINING THE GAME
The resident, who we will call Errol, recounting the story explained that Corrodus called him at about 7:30 p.m. that Monday, celebrated as New Year’s Holiday, to assist with a task.
After he completed his task, a game of dominoes was being played by Mr Corrodus and some other men at the gazebo on the house.
Being a lover of domino, the man then went to join the group.
“Somebody over there did get six love. Same time when mi come, that gentleman get up and say me can go in fi him space and when mi sit down not even a second, we don’t start play domino yet, we just see three men approach,” the man recounted.
Police reports had stated that the gunmen pounced on the group at around 8:15 a.m.
According to Errol, a fourth gunman entered and continued straight towards the house. It is also understood that three of the gunmen wore masks, while one did not have any. Errol says one of the gunmen was armed with two firearms.
GUNSHOTS IN HOUSE
According to reports to the North Coast Times, one of the three gunmen, who came inside the gazebo, turned to one of his cronies and pointed at Mr Corrodus saying that he was the man who had a gun.
“And him (the gunman) push him hand in Mr C (Mr Corrodus) side and Mr C push weh him hand,” said Errol. “So same time him push weh him hand not even a second good, we hear two shots buss in a the house. So a same time Mr C get so cross, because he did not know if it was his wife, because his wife was in the house,” he explained.
One gunman later told Mr Corrodus to lie on the ground, but he refused to do as was commanded.
Errol said he got up from where he was sitting as he realized that Mr Corrodus was about to take up a stool. This was when he Errol said he jumped over the gazebo, along with two others.
“When mi see him (Mr Corrodus) take up the stool, a so mi jump off, because mi know this nah go end pretty. A like a shoot out did a go gwaan up yah now so mi jump off over yah so (the gazebo). And by the time mi fi jump off mi hear three shots buss. Mi jump and hide by the roses down there so,” the man recounted.
Two other men also jumped over the gazebo and ran off. Another man was left with Mr Corrodus and he was allegedly tied up with a cord.
PRAYING THAT PHONE DIDN’T RING
Errol said that while he was hiding by the roses, one of the gunmen came near where he was and was calling to another gunman.
“When me a hide down in the roses, mi hear one a the guy (the gunman) come round where me is and say to another one mi tell yuh fi watch the road, weh yuh up yah so a do?… Those times in my mind me a pray God nuh fi mek my phone ring, because that time him against me. By time him a talk, I hear Mr C up yah so (the gazebo) a gap and mi say Mr C really a dead,” Errol said.
He said that he remained where he was for sometime even when he heard Mr Corrodus’ wife crying. Errol explained that the only time he left his position was when he heard the police jeep arrive at the house around half an hour later.
SHOTS FROM A LICENSED FIREARM HOLDER
When asked at what time the gunmen escaped, Errol said he did not know. He said that he learnt that one of the men, who jumped over the gazebo and escaped, went to seek the assistance of a licensed firearm holder.
It was when that licensed firearm holder was coming down to the house, that he fired one shot in the air. It was then that a barrage of gunshots was heard.
“About eight shots the gunman them buss. Either a take them a take way themselves or so. So fi tell yuh where them turn, I do not know,” Errol explained, while adding that he did not hear any vehicle drive off.
DIED ON THE SCENE
Mr Corrodus died on the scene.
“He fell on his face and they turned him over and take off his shirt, his shoes, his socks, his pants and leave him in his underpants alone,” Errol said.
It is alleged that Mr Corrodus was shot three times.
Mr Corrodus’ pet dog was also grazed by a gunshot. However, the dog did not die. Mr Corrodus’ firearm that was allegedly in his room was also taken.
His wife was gun butted in the incident and received medical attention for her injuries.
“Everybody shock. People nuh eat, because dem can’t believe Mr C gone like that. Him never deserve this,” Errol said.
