WESTMORELAND, Jamaica— The community of Darliston in Westmoreland has been jolted following the tragic death of veteran businessman William ‘Baba Roots’ Webb.

Webb was killed in a home invasion on Sunday morning. He is said to have been tied up by the gunmen along with another occupant of the house. He was subsequently shot after a brief conversation.

READ: Owner of ‘Baba Roots’ gunned down at Westmoreland home

The police said the men also ransacked the house before shooting Webb who was 64-years-old.

His death comes less than 48 hours after the imposition of a State of Public Emergency in the parish on Friday and has left the community in shock.

“He was a loving man, a community man. I am feeling so bad. Mi and him move so good,” Webb’s beloved friend Alfred Brown told Observer Online.

Brown noted that there was a time when back in the day crime was not so rampant in the community.

“Back in my days when you hear about a killing, it would take you nuff years to hear about another,” he reasoned.

Webb’s neighbour Denham Ambersley said he woke to the sad news.

“Him is a good man in the area because him employ couple people weh eat food and pickney send a school. Mi sad so much,” a distraught Ambersley said.

Webb’s mother Barbara Panton has been left shaken by his gruesome death.

“I am not strong but God is. We live close to each other. I know I’ll have later possibly reactions but what mother doesn’t have it? You reflect on the good days and the growing up stage and a thought crosses you, but you’re human,” the mother of six told Observer online.

Meanwhile, councillor Jerome Bacchas [Darliston, PNP] and seasoned businessman in Darliston is sending a strong message to criminals following the death of the businessman.

“At this time we are in a rough time. When we lose a businessman like William Webb which is known as ‘Babba Roots’, a serious businessman in the community we have to ask ourselves who’s next,” Bacchas said.

“This morning we’re really saddened to know he’s gone this way and the entire world is mourning for Mr Baba Roots. We don’t know the motive. We just want to say condolences to his family. The business community is really shaken up,” councillor Godfrey Walters [Darliston Division, JLP] told Observer Online on his visit to the family house.