Customers slowly return to reopened store

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Belvin’s Variety reopened yesterday afternoon, less than a day after the murders at the Happy Valley Road store.

The store remained shut in the morning, but opened its doors around 2pm to a slow stream of customers.

One shopper said he was there merely to show his support for the business.

“What happened was tragic, but we can’t let that stop us doing what we do,” he said.

Store manager Shawnette Smith said Belvin’s, where Haile Outerbridge and Ricco Furbert were killed by a lone gunman, was a victim of circumstances in the Island's ongoing crime spree.

She described the two murder victims as men who were "in the store, buying what they needed to buy — nice people, just regular customers".

Ms Smith added: "It's sad for both their families, and I believe they had children. We feel for their families and will give them privacy at this time."

An employee and security guard who were present in the shop during Wednesday’s shooting were "not harmed — they're all right", Ms Smith said.

She praised them for "acting professionally and doing what they needed to do".

"It's like any other shop. It can happen anywhere — we can't say why. If they're going to get you, they're going to get you."

Father and son area residents, aged 67 and 46, spoke with The Royal Gazette yesterday morning, still shocked by the news.

Neither was aware of the shooting until they saw police activity.

"I didn't hear anything,” the son said. “It's terrible. I wish I had seen or heard something."

Added his father: "It's too close to home — right outside the door."

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