WAYNE Miller started a new job yesterday. But he had spent only three hours on the work site, when he left on his bicycle to meet someone. However, he never returned.

Miller was allegedly shot by a man who had called him earlier on his cellular phone when he left his new job at Lower Henderson Boulevard in Greater Portmore, St Catherine.

Miller, who resided at 3 East in Greater Portmore, fell in the murky waters of a canal near the Ascot High School in Greater Portmore. Police, who took his body from the canal, said he was shot seven times.

According to the Constabulary Communication Network, Miller, 31, was attacked by a lone gunman who shot him all over his upper body. His attacker then took the bicycle and rode off, police say.

The murder took place at about midday while school was in progress but most of the students who spoke to the Observer say they did not hear any gunfire and were only aware that a man had been killed after the police came to the scene.

“Me don’t hear no shot. It must be a silencer them use,” one student who gave his name as Kareem, said.

Miller was employed to assist in the cleaning of the stagnant canal, a project which is being run by Y P Seaton and Associates.

“Him inna the guard house sit down and get a call. Him tell the person say them deh too far and borrow a youth bicycle and ride off,” a man on the work site said. “We not even know say him get shot and when we see the whole heap a police a come down and we go look and see say a him.”

Miller girlfriend remained calm as the scene of crime detectives swabbed Miller’s fingers and examined his body. It was obvious that the death of her boyfriend pained her as she looked on and shook her head. The woman was in no condition to talk and shrugged off any attempt to speak to her.

Miller is the 734th person to be killed this year.

His murder is the second gun-slaying to take place in that section of Greater Portmore this week, following Tuesday night’s murder of Andrew Blackstock, who was shot to death as his son watched.