Family, friends and colleagues of Major Bonnie-Paul Williams have reacted with shock and grief over the army man’s shooting death on Ridge Way Terrace in the Barbican, St Andrew area on Thursday morning.

Residents reportedly heard explosions sometime between 3:15am and 3:30 am. Checks were made and Williams was found lying on his back in the parking lot outside his home with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head.

It is understood that preliminary investigations indicate that Williams had just returned home from a night out when he was shot and killed by unknown assailants who were in the parking area.

It is being theorised that the assailants were in the process of stealing a Honda CRV – which was observed on the scene with its bonnet pried – when Williams arrived in the parking lot and was shot upon exiting his motor vehicle.

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When OBSERVER ONLINE visited the area on Thursday morning, Williams’ distraught mother was observed crying uncontrollably while being consoled by law enforcement authorities who were still processing the scene.

Williams’ babysitter meanwhile remembered the late major as a very caring person.

“I don’t really know what Bonnie could have done to anyone to have caused this…because of the caring person that he is… I am still in shock,” the woman said.

There have been an outpouring of tributes on social media to Williams, who was serving the Jamaica Defence Force as a Brigade Medical Officer.

“One of the best doctors I’ve ever worked with.one thing about this man he has a heart for his patients,” one person wrote on Facebook.

Said another: “Bunny..my childhood friend..one of the humblest most peaceful persons that I have ever known. RIP Major. Ebony Vale will never forget you.”

The Half Way Tree Criminal Investigations Branch is probing the incident.