Claims that young student Shaundae Jones was murdered at the weekend over a row about a woman were "ludicrous", his upset mother said yesterday.

She said allegations in the media that her 20-year-old son had been gunned down at point blank range on Sunday because of jealousy over a girl were untrue and unfair.

Marsha Jones said she did not know why her only child had been killed, but said the last thing she believed was that woman trouble was to blame.

She said: "Saying that Shaundae's death was caused by rivalry over a woman is absolutely ludicrous.

"I don't believe that at all. Shaundae had the same girlfriend for three years - they were always together. The only girl he ever brought to this house was Anthonea DeSilva - she was here all the time. At least four times a week.

"There was never even talk about other girls. He loved Anthonea and these comments will be very hurtful to her.

"Anthonea was so close to us that she used to call me Aunt Marsha. She has been here all the time since he died. They had a good relationship and she is devastated by what has happened.

"I just want to leave her with her good memories."

Shaundae was a member of the Jones' Village Crew (JVC), and since his death on Sunday, graffiti paying tribute to him has appeared on Middle Road in Warwick, and on Khyber Pass, at the junction of Smith's Avenue, where he lived with his mother.

Some of his friends, in an interview with The Bermuda Sun, said most gang-related violence on the Island was in connection with women and petty jealousies over clothes and jewellery, and not turf wars as was believed.

However, the cause of Shaundae's murder on Sunday is still very unclear.

He was believed to have been involved in a fight at Club Malabar two weeks ago, after someone is said to have spilled a drink.

His mother said the next day he told her that he had got into the fight with some youths from Hamilton, and some others from Somerset had also turned against him. On that occasion, he managed to get away.

She did not know if that had anything to do with the fatal shooting on Sunday, but she said what ever it was, her son did not deserve to die.

"I want people to stop this," said Ms Jones.

"I just can't see any more children die. I feel like all of these children are mine, and I'm not talking about children from Warwick, Southampton or Somerset. I'm talking about everywhere.

"Half of these children that fight are related. My own family is out of Somerset - we are from the Jones' of Somerset.

"I really don't know what the problem is. I think young people are watching too much violence these days. It's instilled in their minds that it's cool to be aggressive. Well, I can tell them that it's not."