Police say that Ashley Zuniga Garnett, 26, of Fabers Road Extension, was shot multiple times on Baldwin Avenue at about 8:50 p.m. on Friday, June 28. A gunman who was trailing him on a motorcycle shot him in his forehead and upper abdomen, causing him to die almost immediately.
Police reports are that Zuniga was going home on his bicycle, travelling on Neal Pen Road heading towards Baldwin Avenue. Upon reaching the corner of Neal Pen Road and Baldwin Avenue, a man on motorcycle who was trailing him from Central American Boulevard down Neal Pen Road, shot him then reportedly turned back, drove up Neal Pen Road in the direction of Central American Boulevard, and disappeared
Police said that they found Zuniga lying in a pool of blood next to his black bicycle. They took him to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 9:53 that same Friday night.
Police say that six .45 caliber expended shells were retrieved from the scene, and that the motive for the attack on Zuniga is as yet unknown.
Emily Zuniga, his mother, said that her son was returning home after carrying some things to his father. He had passed through the Rocky Road area, and it was her belief that it was from that area that the killer followed her son, and when he got to an isolated area on Baldwin Avenue, the man shot him.
She said that Ashley never took a short curve, but took it wide, so that he could have a clear view of where he was going, and in taking the curve into Baldwin Avenue, the gunman saw him clearly and shot him.
Emily said that she is angry, because in April, 2008, a gunman tried to kill Zuniga on Fabers Road, but only managed to shoot him in the ankle. She had implored the police to launch an investigation, but she was ignored. She said that if the police had carried out the investigation in 2008, perhaps her son would still be alive. All charges against his assailant were later dropped.
She said that Zuniga is the father of a child, whom he loved very much.
Ursula Skeete, his elder sister, had appealed to the authorities for help to stop the threats on his life. She said that the eldest brother, Michael Skeet, was killed, and they got no justice, either.
Ashley Zuniga is survived by his child, his mother Emily, his father Lester Garnett, his sister Ursula Skeete, nine brothers, and many relatives and friends.