Tributes have been flowing in online for 30-year-old Imaan Syms, believed to be pregnant who was shot and killed on Monday night outside her home in Sussex Street, Woodstock.
Imaan is the daughter of Ziyaad Williams, a prominent figure in the minstrel fraternity and owner of the Original D6 Hanover Minstrels troupe.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the shooting and said that Woodstock Police are investigating a case of murder.
Twigg reports: “Woodstock police responded to a complaint of a shooting on Monday night in Sussex Street, Woodstock and upon arrival on the scene they found the body of a 30-year-old female who sustained gunshot wounds to her body.”
“ According to reports the victim was approached by an unknown suspect who shot her before fleeing the scene. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack is yet to be determined.”
Gary Adams from the Woodstock Community Policing Forum (CPF) said that the shooting comes as a shock to the community of Woodstock as Sussex Street is a quiet street.
Adams explains: “There are not any known gangs or gang activities in Sussex Street. The reason for the shooting and murder is still unknown.
“All we know is there were eyewitnesses who claimed that the person was on foot and said individual (shooter) ran down Sussex Street towards Lower Main Road and turned left like going back to town.”
“We are not sure if there was a vehicle waiting for the person, the investigation will reveal that.”
“The intel we received is that she was going into the house, her father had dropped her at the house and drove off and as she was walking into the house, this guy came up to the gate, called her, she (turned around to approach him) and he shot her.”
“She was shot quite a few times. A certain amount of cartridges was found (on the scene) it doesn’t mean that they all hit her but she was declared dead on the scene by paramedics. The community says that she was shot 17 times.”
Community activist Shamiel Abbs said he heard multiple gunshots going off when leaving the mosque.
Abbs adds: “We heard the shots and when we got to the scene, the lady was lying in the doorway and we heard afterwards she was pregnant.”
“Woodstock is an extremely quiet neighbourhood and even safe to walk at night, so we are still trying to fathom and understand what happened.”
When Daily Voice reached out to the family including her father Ziyaad Williams, they declined to comment.
Anyone with any information about this shooting incident is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.