CLARENDON, Jamaica – Tragedy struck in the Comfort district of Clarendon on Sunday morning when a woman was fatally shot during a robbery, while her sister narrowly escaped with her life.

The victim, identified as 43-year-old Marie Sushana Smith-Martin, was a vendor from Sandy Bay in the parish. According to reports, the women were traveling throughout the Comfort community, selling goods from a grey Nissan Ad Wagon when they were approached by a male who requested to purchase a pair of slippers.

As they assisted the man, another male armed with a handgun emerged from the bushes, demanding their money and valuables. Despite complying with the robber’s demands and handing over their cellphones and cash, the situation took a tragic turn. The now-deceased woman, in a bid to defend herself, attempted to reach for a machete in the vehicle and was shot and killed by the attacker.

Meanwhile, her sister managed to escape unharmed by running into nearby bushes. The culprits drove away in the victims’ vehicle but collided some distance away and abandoned it, only for it to be seized by the police later.

The incident has left the community in shock and mourning, as the police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the robbery and homicide. This tragic event serves as a reminder of the dangers that vendors and small business owners often face in their day-to-day operations. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim during this difficult time.