WHILE most Jamaicans were enjoying Christmas Day, the relatives and friends of 31-year-old Donavan Phillips, were sent into shock with news that he was murdered on West Street in downtown, Kingston yesterday.

Police report that gunmen approached Phillips as he sat inside a bus he operated and shot him six times in the head before stealing a gold chain. He died on the spot.

The bus was filled with passengers who were traumatised by the execution style killing.

Phillips’ murder has left three children fatherless and drew the condemnation of the Jamaica Association of Transport Owners and Operators, JATOO.

JATOO National Coordinator Egeton Newman, said the murder highlighted the dangers faced by operators of public passenger vehicles.

“The death of Donavan, who was employed by one of JATOO’s senior executive, is a testimony to the fact that operators of public transportation vehicles especially in the Kingston Metropolitan area are under siege with robberies and extortion at its highest. It is becoming more unbearable and we have no one to turn to,” Newman said.